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The effectiveness of the structural policies implemented to fight food insecurity is inseparable from the conditions of international agricultural markets and farmers in the various regions of the world. Without being the sole explanatory factors, the growing liberalization of agricultural trade in an environment of dismantling regulatory mechanisms, as well as the increasing price volatility of agricultural goods recorded since the early 2000s, did play a role in the rise of global food insecurity. Ironically, it is in the aftermath of the 1995 Declaration of the Millennium Development Goals that food insecurity began to escalate, and has kept on rising since.
It is a global and systemic issue that is not limited to developing countries. So, just like the revival of international cooperation observed during the financial crisis, tighter international cooperation based on renewed groundwork is required to stem the rising food insecurity.
Containing price and rate volatility in reasonable proportions is therefore a requisite condition to improve food security durably. It is obvious, however, that such a goal cannot be reached in a only one day or through the achievement of a single country, however powerful it may be.
These 21st century imperatives are requiring a renewed vision of the international governance established in the aftermath of WWII and whose key principles have not been altered since, contrary to our changing world. The mandates of most international institutions certainly deserve to be rethought and restructured, in order to better encompass the world complexity, and especially work more effectively for global food security, economic growth and development.
With this goal in mind, the think tank momagri is advocating the creation of a World Organization for Agriculture. Not intended to be an additional international institution, it would be a platform gathering all the required expertise to be in charge of its future: The FAO for food security, the WTO for trade, the World Bank for Economic development, the IMF for financial and currency issues, etc…
Currently at the heart of the talks conducted in the framework of the G20, this issue of governance will be delved further and discussed in the next meeting of the "Dakar Agricole" to be held on April 18 and 19. We will not fail to keep you informed of the conference conclusions.
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