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Trade and nutrition

The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) recommended that policy makers take a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the issue of malnutrition by developing ‘coherent public policies’ to advance nutrition. Endorsed by participating governments at the conference, the Framework for Action committed world leaders to establishing national policies aimed at eradicating malnutrition and transforming food systems to make nutritious diets available to all. With regards to trade, the recommendations of this conference included

• Recommendation 17: Encourage governments, United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations to identify opportunities to achieve global food and nutrition targets, through trade and investment policies.

• Recommendation 18: Improve the availability and access of the food supply through appropriate trade agreements and policies and endeavour to ensure that such agreements and policies do not have a negative impact on the right to adequate food in other countries.

What FAO does
The links between trade policies and actions designed to address malnutrition are complex, and there is limited evidence on the linkages and impacts of trade on nutrition. Trade and nutrition is a relatively new area of work, in which FAO is playing a role in strengthening the knowledge base by supporting research and facilitating dialogue among stakeholders.