Trade Reforms and Food Security: Conceptualizing the Linkages
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2003)
What is the relationship between trade reforms and food security in developing countries? What are the enabling conditions for improved food security in contexts of liberalisation?
This FAO book draws on a wealth of existing and contemporary research analysed in the process of developing a research project on the relationship between trade and food security. The book sets out and explains a framework for this analysis, and introduces a range of related contemporary debates. It argues that a clearer understanding of the often-obscured effects of trade reform on food security is vital if the drivers of further reform are to result in changes to the benefit of insecure and vulnerable groups in poor countries.
This wide-ranging publication sets out conceptual links between trade liberalisation and food security, and reviews evidence from developing countries. It discusses debates on globalisation and agriculture, the role of transnational corporations and capital markets, and the important role played by institutions.
Amongst a range of highlighted themes, the publication emphasises that:
Factors influencing whether the relationship between reform and food security is beneficial include the initial state of the agricultural sector, the level of development of the country as a whole, the impact of policy design and sequencing, and the magnitude of change in the agriculture sectors.
There is clear evidence of a need to pace reforms and to implement complementary policies to facilitate adjustment to more productive activities and/or compensatory policies to alleviate the negative consequences faced by some groups in society.
Current prescriptions for economic reform are not providing for the development of essential supporting institutions in the agriculture sector and this is holding back vital productivity improvements and preventing the full contribution of the sector to economic growth, poverty reduction and improved food security.
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