Trade, Food Security, And The 2030 Agenda

The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets a ground-breaking new commitment for all countries: to end hunger and “all forms of malnutrition” by 2030. The new goals will require governments to address the “triple burden of malnutrition”: undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies and overnutrition.

This study by  Eugenio Díaz-Bonilla and Jonathan Hepburn examines how policies affecting trade and markets are relevant to those new commitments on hunger and malnutrition, looks at past progress and projected trends, and examines options for government action in the years ahead.

Trade policy and rules can help governments to achieve the 2030 Agenda targets, such as doubling productivity and incomes for small producers by improving access to markets and opportunities for value addition, and creating rural jobs.

The new goals say explicitly that tackling trade restrictions and distortions in global agricultural markets could help. Actions to implement the new commitments that affect non-agricultural markets could be just as important for food and nutrition security—such as ending poverty, ensuring equitable access to sustainable energy, or adopting sustainable production and consumption patterns.

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(ICTSD/wi)