On 2 March 2026, the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development and the Codex Secretariat will host a high-level session to discuss the role of standards in global development.

With the participation of FAO and IPPC, the event will center on findings from the World Development Report (WDR) 2025, Standards for Development, exploring how technical frameworks serve as the "hidden infrastructure" that determines the success of agrifood systems.

The discussion will focus on the following areas:

• Standards underpin trust and market access across agrifood value chains, with a large share of global trade shaped by non-tariff measures linked to standards
• A country’s capacity to adapt to, align with, and shape international standards is a primary factor affecting its productivity and economic inclusion.
• In sectors such as agriculture, food processing, forestry, and natural-fiber textiles, the establishment of compliance systems, laboratories, and certification capacity is considered essential for maintaining competitiveness.

Save the date:

• March 2, 2026, 15:00 CET

Register here: https://fao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JwTHdRH-RXOxLlP5r8Im6w#/registration

Read more

Download the report: http://wrld.bg/AsY150XC8Ge