FAO`s work on markets and trade enhances transparency

The links between trade and food security are complex, with several channels of interaction affecting the different dimensions of food security simultaneously, and with different short- and long-term impacts.

This was one of the messages conveyed by FAO Senior Economist Ekaterina Krivonos at the EU Council Working Party on Commodities.

In her presentation, Krivonos observed that the international community is not on track to achieve its targets of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. Major drivers and underlying factors causing the delays include the COVID-19 pandemic, economic slowdowns and downturns, regional wars and conflicts, climate change, and the rising cost of healthy diets.
She emphasized that the war in Ukraine poses severe risks to global food and agricultural markets and trade. These include trade and logistical risks, production risks, energy risks and price risks.

She added that FAO will continue to produce estimates and projections for supply, demand, trade and prices; undertake analyses of the implications of trade policies for food security and nutrition; and engage governments and other stakeholders in dialogues on policies and actions needed to boost agrifood market resilience.

Transparent, efficient and inclusive markets and trade are key to building resilience and reducing vulnerabilities, said the FAO Senior Economist.

Krivonos ended her presentation by commenting that science and innovation in agriculture can play a pivotal role in the critical transformation of agrifood systems, so that they can become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

The Council Working Party on Commodities is responsible for discussions on commodity policies, in particular on issues linked to sustainability, commodity dependence, supply security and commodity-related aspects of trade and development.

You can read more about the FAO Trade and Markets Division here

Below, you find links to key trade and commodities publications of FAO

FAO Food Outlook
The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets
OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook
Committee on Commodity Problems