Somalia is facing
one of the worst food crises the world has seen in 60 years. The scale of the
humanitarian disaster provides an ominous backdrop to this issue of International
Trade Forum as we focus on food security, agriculture and trade
development.
Trade sits at the
very heart of the food debate. The relationship between food production and its
distribution to those who consume it is fundamental to a healthy and secure
society. It is our role through Aid for Trade to help to build capacity, not
only at the production end but throughout the full value chain. Emergencies,
such as in the Horn of Africa put a sharp focus on this, where logistics are
the key to addressing the problem.
It is also
important to note that developing countries are the biggest suppliers of food
aid during emergencies. The World Food Programme states that 80% of their food
aid is sourced from developing countries as close to the emergency zone as
possible. Therefore, whatever we can do to maximize the productivity and
efficiency of food production and distribution in those countries will greatly
impact the humanitarian outcomes.
Ensuring food and
nutrition security for a world population that will likely expand from 7 to 9
billion people by 2050 has become an increasingly important topic on
development agendas. Addressing many challenges posed by issues such as climate
change, water and land use, population growth, energy security, migration and
urbanization will not only require technical innovation but also significant
policy intervention and investment.
At the Third Aid
for Trade Global Review hosted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in July
2011, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke about the food crisis
saying, ‘We must fully utilize the potential of Aid for Trade to advance food
and nutrition security.’
WTO
Director-General Pascal Lamy emphasized this point in saying, ‘We can do a
better job of explaining why Aid for Trade can support broader policy
objectives like poverty alleviation, social welfare, food security, gender
empowerment, climate change adaptation, energy generation and sustainable development.’
Addressing issues
related to food security centres on building confidence and quality through
robust and efficient supply chain systems. Putting the right kind of
organization behind informal, small and micro producers and organizing supply
chains in a way that ensures proper distribution is fundamental. The solution
is not solely about agricultural production but rather the total supply chain.
The many complex
and interconnected issues related to food security require collaborative
thinking about where infrastructure investment should go to complement
production. It also requires consideration of how quality systems can be
applied to enable production, harvesting and distribution at the right price.
Increasing production is only part of the equation. Attention needs to be
focused on improving the quality of the product, the methods by which it is
processed, how this is financed, and the efficiency and transparency of
processes by which products are bought and sold. In essence, about trade.
In this issue of International
Trade Forum we explore some of the key issues related to food security,
with commentary from leading experts and organizations, including the World
Trade Organization, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United
Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the International
Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and the International Food Policy
and Research Institute. ITC’s own internal experts contribute their insights,
and agri-entrepreneurs in Africa share their secrets to success.
Despite the
challenges ahead, with the right policies in place, food security hinges on
innovation and adaptability, and is underpinned by sound production and
distribution systems. Importantly, we need to recognize the vital role of
producers and businesses in developing countries and how they contribute to
overall global supply.
To this end ITC
will continue to focus its work programmes on developing the capacity of
enterprises engaged in agricultural production and food distribution sectors in
developing economies, while identifying and sharing the success stories of the
contributors.