There is a growing consensus on the need to modernize global trade regulations for food and agriculture to foster sustainable growth and ensure food security. At a workshop on July 2nd, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the critical need for updated rules to address contemporary challenges in the agriculture sector.
“There is an urgent need to ensure that trade in food and agriculture contributes to ensuring everyone can access sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times,” Okonjo-Iweala remarked, highlighting the positive impact that well-regulated trade can have on global food availability.
The Agreement on Agriculture has played a pivotal role in increasing agricultural trade five-fold since the early 2000s. However, the sector now faces new challenges that require innovative solutions. Distorted agricultural markets and the effects of climate change are among the issues that need to be addressed to continue this positive trend.
Okonjo-Iweala encouraged policymakers to rethink how current frameworks influence the sustainable management of land and water resources. The workshop's sessions focused on sustainability, food security, and poverty reduction, exploring new strategies to enhance agricultural trade rules.
The event brought together experts from academic institutions and international agencies, along with ambassadors and trade officials from various countries. Okonjo-Iweala called on trade officials to harness the political will necessary to achieve meaningful progress.
“We should use every single means to try and get a breakthrough,” she asserted, highlighting the workshop’s vital role in driving forward positive changes in global trade practices.
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