UNCTAD | 14 December 209

South–South and triangular cooperation for sustainable agriculture development and food security in developing countries

The challenge of agricultural development and food security provides the theme for UNCTAD`s second multiyear expert meeting on International Cooperation; South South Cooperation and Regional Integration.

In a series of sessions, UNCTAD will seek to bring its own distinct approach to this through an integrated treatment of the trade, finance, investment and technology dimensions involved.

The background note suggests that tackling the scourge of global hunger "hinges on the possibility of raising productivity across the full range of farming units, including by increasing the use of machinery and technological knowhow, improving land and water management, and introducing sustainable farming practices."

As the note makes clear that has not been the experience of many developing countries in recent years. It calls for a rethink of policies towards the agricultural sector but also the promotion of innovative responses in development cooperation.

The issues under discussion and where south south and triangular solutions could make a difference:

• The challenge of raising agricultural investment in developing countries by as much as $80bn per year on some estimates, with a particular concern to improve access to financial markets for small farmers.
• The need to correct persistent distortions in the trading system, particularly the massive agricultural subsidies, in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually, to northern farmers.
• The threats and opportunities from FDI in the agricultural sector; large-scale acquisitions or leases of farmland by foreign producers can help mobilise underutilised resources but without improving the food security of the host country.
• The development of new and appropriate technologies; a green revolution helped to feed a growing population in Asia but questions have since been raised about its impact on the environment and on small-scale producers.
• The challenge of adapting to climate change; agriculture will be hit hard by climate change and the additional cost of adaptation has been estimated at $11-13bn annually mainly in developing countries.