Food Security

INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY:

Raising awareness in Ireland of the impact of European Union and World Trade Organisation policies on Food Security in the Majority World.

Through its work on the impact of the CAP on the Majority World, Comhlámh Action Network has perceived an urgent need for more information within Ireland on the implications of international trade arrangements on farmer livelihoods and food security in the South. CAP policies are increasingly becoming influenced by the EU’s commitments under international trade arrangements, such as the GATT/WTO. The EU is a major force within global trade negotiations, and yet many Irish people are unaware of how profoundly the EU’s position in trade talks can affect food producers around the world.

This project therefore aims to develop greater public understanding within Ireland of these issues and to promote greater sensitivity within the Irish government and at EU level to the likely impacts of the WTO on Majority World farmers. The project involves an integrated programme of research, debate and education in Ireland aimed at ensuring that the decision-makers involved in these processes, the sectors most influenced by agricultural reform and the public, are aware of the need to take Majority World concerns into account.

The project will consider the impact on food security in the Majority World of changing global agricultural and food trade arrangements as a consequence of the WTO negotiations. The project will seek to monitor and influence Ireland's and the EU’s role in future negotiations, to strengthen rather than weaken Majority World food security. The main focuses for our project within the negotiations will be the Agreement on Agriculture and the TRIPS agreement. The project will also be directly concerned with the continuing implications of the CAP for global food security and for the EU’s own position within the WTO negotiations.

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• CONFERENCE Agriculture Beyond the WTO Talks Hong Kong
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• Agriculture beyond the WTO Hong Kong talks
• Research on Food Security