The Director-General of the World Trade Organization has emphasized the crucial role of trade in ensuring global food stability. Speaking at the opening plenary of the World Food Forum held in Rome, she highlighted the importance of a free and fair multilateral trading system, supported by updated trade rules, to promote a sustainable agrifood system that can provide nourishment for the global population both now and in the future.
The Director-General pointed to the ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships between the WTO and the Food and Agriculture Organization, particularly in the realms of food security and agricultural practices. She underlined that the multilateral trading framework must be supported by domestic policies aimed at reducing market distortions and fostering competition.
Essential public goods for farmers, including research, pest and disease control, efficient water management, and extension services, were noted as vital factors in enhancing productivity and sustainability within the agricultural sector. Alarmingly, recent figures indicate that approximately 733 million individuals are facing hunger, with a significant concentration in Africa and South Asia. The Director-General expressed concern that current efforts are inadequate to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
Highlighting the growing threats posed by climate change, she remarked that it exacerbates challenges related to water management, biodiversity loss, and deforestation. “Over 55% of the world’s food is produced in regions facing significant water instability,” she stated, stressing that trade restrictions and subsidies continue to distort agricultural production and consumption.
The Director-General revealed that support for individual producers in 54 countries averaged $630 billion annually from 2020 to 2022, which she noted often leads to detrimental environmental effects. Furthermore, she referenced estimates that current agri-food systems incur hidden health, environmental, and social costs of at least $10 trillion per year.
The WTO remains committed to providing a platform for negotiations aimed at reducing trade barriers and minimizing trade-distorting support. “While a comprehensive update to global agricultural trade regulations is overdue, we are steadfast in our efforts to advance agricultural trade negotiations,” she concluded, reiterating the critical importance of a robust agricultural trading system for the well-being of the world.
