FAO Geneva Agriculture Trade Talks: The role of trade in agrifood systems transformations
The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of robust, efficient and resilient agrifood systems to feed the world adequately. Trade is an important component of these systems. By moving food from surplus to deficit regions and countries, trade can address production shortfalls, stabilize markets, reduce prices to consumers, increase the diversity of available foods and influence preferences and diets. At the same time, trade can contribute to economic growth and to a more efficient allocation of global resources. It can also support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Trade can therefore be a critical enabler of agrifood systems transformation towards better food security and nutrition outcomes, enhanced poverty reduction and equity, and greater sustainability. However, the impacts of trade are complex and may create both synergies and trade-offs with respect to promoting global food security and achieving sustainability objectives, notably in relation to inclusiveness, health and the natural resource base, and the extent to which agrifood systems are resilient to shocks.
The FAO Geneva Agriculture Trade Talks series session held on Monday 28 February 2022, explored the different contributions of trade and trade policy to making agrifood systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
Speakers:
Dr Ekaterina Krivonos, Trade Team Leader, Markets and Trade Division, FAO
Prof. Corinna Hawkes, Director, Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London
Dr Jamie Morrison, Director, Food Systems and Food Safety Division, FAO
Following these presentations, Ambassador Abraham Peralta from Costa Rica and Mr Alwin Kopse from the the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture shared some of their views on these topics.
Resources:
The video recording of the Webinar of the FAO Geneva Agriculture Trade Talks: The role of trade in agrifood systems transformations is available here. (Please note that the meeting starts from 3min00 onwards). Passcode: ME8.my6$
Presentations:
Related links:
FAO Markets and Trade Division (EST)