CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND RESILIENCY: FEED THE WORLD AND GROW EXPORTS. Heritage Crops
and Localized Innovation
Communication from the United States
The following
communication, dated 17 September 2024, is being circulated at the request of
the delegation of the United States.
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1. During the World Trade Organization (WTO) June 2024 Ninth Global
Review of Aid for Trade, the United States led an event titled “Crop Diversification and Resiliency: Feed the World and
Grow Exports. Heritage Crops and Localized Innovation”. The program was
moderated by the American
Seed Trade Association with a panel of experts representing the
Kenya-based Farm Input Promotions Africa, LTD (FIPS-Africa); the Seed Systems Group in Eastern Africa, and the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research
Institutions (APAARI).
2. The concept for this event was inspired by ongoing discussions in
the Committee on Trade and Development on the ways in which innovation and
research are driving development partnerships, including on food security. The
event is part of a series of U.S. communications to showcase how capacity
building investments, when complemented with implementation of WTO disciplines,
can expand domestic investment opportunities, improve farmer livelihoods, and
increase the ability of developing economies to take part in global trade.[1] Compliance with international standards and
effective implementation of the SPS, TBT, and Trade Facilitation Agreements are
critical for trade in seeds — and by extension, global food security.
3. The event demonstrated, with practical examples, how global
agricultural trade expands economic opportunities for farmers. Panelists
discussed how farmers in developing economies have benefited from modern plant breeding
approaches and agronomic management practices through the adoption of improved
varieties and diversified crops. The panelists also highlighted how global seed
trade offers multiple economic opportunities for small and medium sized farmers
in developing countries. In economies where science-based, transparent, and
predictable trade policies have been adopted, farmers, universities, and local
enterprises can partner with outside investors. These partnerships allow the
seed sector to develop, test, and produce seeds in diverse climates and soil
conditions that are eventually planted by farmers worldwide. In turn,
partnerships stimulate local investment and access to improved seed technologies
that can be deployed in a country’s domestic context. This seed sector model,
where global trade supports the development of locally adapted varieties that
are deployed in a range of environmental and economic contexts, provides an
interesting opportunity for attracting investment through trade and investment
partnerships.
4. The event showcased the United States’ investments in programs such
as the Feed the Future
Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, and the Harvest
for Health Challenge. These programs are creating research networks
with developing countries to facilitate seamless access and use of innovative
tools and technologies, allowing U.S. and international researchers to
accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops. USAID and USDA, in
partnership with public and private investors, are also supporting researchers
around the world who focus on the development of underutilized crops using
genomic data, increasing the diversity of foods in the marketplace while
improving nutritional security in the face of climate change and providing
diverse economic opportunities to local growers.
5. A key takeaway from the event was wide recognition of the importance
of the "enabling environment" to facilitate global trade in improved
varieties of seeds. Markets that share globally aligned SPS, TBT, and trade
facilitative measures — as well as intellectual property approaches that allow
both public and private investors to establish economically sustainable
business models for continued variety improvement and breeding — offer the most
attractive opportunities. Partnerships with the global industry and donors such
as USAID are key to making the jump from “proof of concept” to a commercially
viable agricultural sector.
6. As we look ahead to the future, our delegation will draw on
perspectives shared during the Aid for Trade event as we continue discussions
with WTO members on how our trade commitments can help attract investment, or
partnerships, that benefit domestic agricultural systems, while ensuring that farmers
have access to the practical, science-based tools to address the modern
challenges we face collectively. The United States encourages other Members,
both donors and development partners, to share their experiences with the
Committee on Trade and Development. These experiences may assist the Committee
in identifying any further work Members may wish to undertake.
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ATTACHMENT
AID-FOR-TRADE
GLOBAL REVIEW 26-28 June 2024
MAINSTREAMING trade
Crop Diversification and Resiliency: Feed the
World and Grow Exports.
Heritage Crops and Localized Innovation
WTO - Centre William Rappard – Room D - Geneva,
Switzerland
Day and time: June 27, 2024 9am-10am/CET
OBJECTIVE: To
demonstrate with practical examples that the real opportunity to support
livelihood and increase agricultural production can include traditional and
underutilized crops, and that these efforts can benefit from compliance to the
trade rules and effective implementation of the SPS and TBT Agreements.
Opening Remarks (5 min) – Emanuela Montanari-Stephens, Director for Trade and
Development, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
Moderator – Sam Crowell, Sr.
Director, International Programs and Policy, American Seed Trade Association (ASTA)
Discussion Questions:
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