WTO and FAO to strengthen food security

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) have announced that they will work in collaberation, as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation on the issue of trade and food security.

With the aim of bolstering food safety, WTO will take part in the preparatory work for the FAO’s flagship publication, the State of Agricultural Commodity Markets, which will focus on trade and food security this year.

WTO director-general Roberto Azevêdo said: "Food security is closely linked to trade and therefore it is an important element of our work at the WTO. I am delighted that we will now be able to enhance our work on this crucial issue which affects so many people, through an even closer partnership with the FAO."

Azevêdo met with the director-general of the FAO, José Graziano da Silva in Geneva in April to discuss ways of providing evidence and greater clarity on issues related to trade and food security.

As open and strengthened food markets will play an important role in enhancing food security objectives, the two directors-general discussed how trade and the multilateral trading system could be used to create a more favourable global environment for food security and sustainable agriculture.

Graziano da Silva said: "I am deeply engaged in continuing to develop our joint work with WTO as food security and trade can play together a very important role to help fulfil FAO’s mandate."

The FAO will also hold a symposium on food security at the WTO on 5 June.