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Advancing The Role of Trade and Agricultural Sustainability
Are trade policy and agricultural sustainability on a collision course? Or can new forms of trade policy enhance global sustainability by directing local priorities? The Advancing the Role of Trade and Agricultural Sustainability report from the Global Forum on Farm Policy & Innovation identifies challenges and areas of opportunity in ways trade and agricultural sustainability can work together. The report is based on the inaugural public-private workshop led by GFFPI in October 2023 at the OECD, with the support of Australia, the Netherlands and Japan.
Achieving sustainability in global agri-food systems is an increasingly urgent issue, yet sustainability cannot be approached with a one-size-fits-all mindset. The growing prevalence of sustainability measures by countries worldwide could lead to unintended consequences for agricultural trade, productivity, and profitability, as well as for rural communities, and the climate.
The inaugural public-private workshop led by GFFPI in October 2023 at the OECD, with the support of Australia, the Netherlands and Japan, brought together representatives from the OECD Member States and Secretariat, the agri-food industry, thought leaders and subject matter experts from across Europe, North America, Japan and Australia to unpack the role of trade in enhancing agricultural sustainability.
More than 80 participants engaged in dynamic discussions on actionable solutions, including creating a global platform for knowledge exchange, integrating an outcomes-based approach in trade policy, and developing shared indicators to measure progress. The workshop also emphasized the importance of data and transparency and the need for collaboration between governments and the private sector globally.
Key points identified in this workshop report include:
- Enhancing food systems and trade through outcomes-based approaches to sustainability,
- Intensifying global cooperation in support of coherent policies and a global framework for sustainable agriculture,
- Optimizing trade to make agriculture sustainable and profitable, and
- Harnessing data and technology to transform the way we grow and trade food.