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Markets and Trade

Trade in an evolving context: international standards, innovation and digitalization
Advances in information and communication technologies are fundamentally transforming food systems, including the ways in which agricultural trade is organized. This transformation can affect the competitiveness of different actors within value chains and presents an evolving need for analysis and technical assistance. At the same time, in developing countries there is a great need to improve capacities to meet international standards for food safety and plant and animal health so that producers can gain better access to global markets. FAO supports its Members through evidence-building on emerging issues and provides technical assistance in response to demands relating to food safety and trade facilitation, trade digitalization, and innovation, among others.
Key messages

 

Non-tariff measures, particularly procedural bottlenecks in the application of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) measures, present significant obstacles to trade.


 
New technologies that present advantages in food production, processing, handling, distribution and trade continue to be developed, but significant challenges to their widespread adoption in developing countries remain.

 

 

 FAO supports regional and national institutions to better prepare for technological and regulatory changes, to promote the effective participation of countries in the global trading system and to ensure better market access for small- and medium-scale value chain actors, including women, youth, and vulnerable groups. 
Publications
Agricultural technology ecosystems in East Africa - Taking stock in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda - February 2023 (Book)
23/02/2023

Agricultural technology ecosystems in East Africa - Taking stock in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda - February 2023 (Summary)
23/02/2023

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched an initiative to assess the existing impediments for scaling innovation and technology in food and agriculture (AgTech) and to identify options to improve the enabling environment for AgTech-focused businesses. The initiative offers a tool for decision makers to promote the uptake of AgTech, investment and entrepreneurship in Africa, ultimately to advance agricultural productivity and food security. The first cohort evaluates the AgTech ecosystems in three East African countries: Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.