At the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in June 2022, trade ministers agreed on two outcomes on trade and food security as part of the "Geneva package." They exempted food from export restrictions when bought for humanitarian use by the World Food Programme (WFP) and a joint Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity.

Currently, there is a reduced food supply to world markets resulting from Russia's war against Ukraine and the blockage of Ukraine's grain exports. WTO members have committed to avoiding unjustified export restrictions on food and improving transparency on any export restrictions.

Members' declaration of food security shows that the global organization is ready to react to the exceptional circumstances created by the Russian war. But, the big question remains, how can the WTO deliver on food security?

Negotiations and dialogues

WTO members are currently negotiating agricultural trade policy reforms. These talks began in early 2000 under the original mandate of the Agriculture Agreement and became a significant part of the MCs. Monumental decisions made by trade ministers during these negotiations include the elimination of agricultural export subsidies declaration of emergency response on food security, among others.

Also, the WTO organizes a series of "Trade dialogues on food," focusing on the role of international trade in food security. These negotiations and dialogues are platforms where WTO members discuss how to achieve food security. As an extension, these decisions can become an international public policy platform for tackling food security, one negotiation at a time.

Upholding removal of agricultural export subsidies

Export subsidies are given to traders to cover the difference between local and world market prices. At the Nairobi Ministerial Conference in 2015, trade ministers adopted a historic decision abolishing agricultural export subsidies and setting new rules for other forms of farm export support.

Despite the agreement to end agricultural export subsidies and promote regional and continental trade, some member states did not uphold this decision. WTO should compel members to support agricultural subsidy removal and focus on ramping up local production of these products to meet domestic demand. This will improve the respective country's food security.

Improve market information

Local farmers cannot access information that will help them boost soil fertility and enhance crop yield. This creates a massive gap in food security, especially in Africa. Hence, the WTO can fund projects that will make information free-flowing for local farmers on agriculture and food.

The WTO and other international organizations participate in the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS). The AMIS was set up by G20 agriculture ministers to enhance market transparency and promote policy dialogue in the wake of the global food price hikes in 2007-08 and 2010. We can replicate this framework in middle-income countries to boost the market and product access and reduce food crises.

Fostering Collaboration

The WTO has 159 countries as members. These countries need to collaborate to improve trade relations and the same works for tackling food insecurity. The collaboration of WTO members and upholding its policies will go a long way to help achieve food security worldwide.

When there is a collaboration among members, it is easier to build an infrastructure that will promote the global supply chain, reduce food insecurity and promote trade. The partnership can also involve working closely with other organizations to ensure that trade contributes to improving food security.

The WTO has a platform for constantly planning agricultural and food policies for world countries but can do better with its policy implementation strategies.

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