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UNICEF Food System Dialogues with School-aged Children & Adolescents in Ethiopia

Geographical focus: Ethiopia

Geographical focus: No borders

Main findings

The primary finding from the IGC’s webinar was that international trade in grains was vital for global food security. Wheat, rice and maize accounts for the majority of the world’s food consumption, while soyabeans are the primary protein source within animal feed. Furthermore, they are among the world’s most highly-traded products and international trade remains an essential tool for moving bulk grains from areas of surplus to areas of deficit. Secondary outcomes included the need to enhance trust in trade as a reliable supplier of food and to improve communication from the global grain... Read more trade with policy makers, consumers and other interested parties within the food system, in order to build knowledge and understanding of this indispensable sector. On food security, the webinar heard from multiple delegates on the dependence on international trade by several regions to meet domestic consumption requirements. It was noted that this was particularly relevant for lower-income consumers who commonly attain more than 50% of total calories from grains, due to their relatively high availability and low-cost. Specific regions that rely on trade were identified. Near-East Asia and North Africa were noted as being dependent on imports for the foreseeable future, as environmental constraints, such as a lack of arable land or low water availabilities, pose immense challenges in boosting local crop outcomes. Sub-Saharan Africa was also highlighted as, despite the potential for domestic production increases, rapid demographic changes including high population growth and urbanisation will keep the region reliant on international markets in order to meet rising consumption requirements. Far East Asia was also recognised as being reliant on trade as urbanisation and restricted options for expanded local planted area curtails local production growth prospects, while expanding economies and related dietary changes boosts uptake, including for non-traditional crops. The importance of international trade as a tool to respond to unforeseen circumstances such as local crop failures, a degraded security environment or natural disasters was also emphasised due to the ability of grains to be easily stored and transported from areas of surplus to areas of deficit, which is central for emergency response. Furthermore it was noted that due to population and economic growth in many import-dependent regions, trade in grains would need to expand over the coming decades in order to meet dietary requirements. Within the context of climate change, it was also noted that trade would become even more vital for food security over the coming decades, amid the potential for increased local production losses which would necessitate supplies from international markets to compensate for domestic shortfalls. Webinar participants agreed that the grains trade had responded well and demonstrated substantial resilience to the immense challenges posed by COVID-19, with the agribulk sector noted as the most resilient amongst all international trade sectors during the pandemic. However, it was further noted that confidence in international markets as a reliable supplier of food needed to be enhanced. Export restrictions were highlighted as contributing to an erosion of trust in markets, as a source of uncertainty for importers and as a major factor in incentivising countries to seek self-sufficiency. Although their use remains limited, the placing of restrictions on exports, particularly during times of emergency such as during COVID-19, demonstrated the importance of international discussions and coordination on trade distorting policy measures. In addition, improved harmonisation and streamlining of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, through utilising a science-based approach in multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations, were considered as a means of facilitate and improve the movement of agribulk products from areas of surplus to regions of deficit as quickly and efficiently as possible, and thus would boost confidence in trade. Logistical challenges, including potential disruptions in trade choke-points (for example as recently seen by the blockage in the Suez Canal) and recent gyrations in global container markets were also discussed as concerns for import dependent regions, with continued investments in such potential blockages regarded as important to enhance trust in markets. It was also noted that low-cost agri-bulk products (principally rice and pulses) were not being given priority in container ships over higher-valued goods, despite their value to food security. Another risk factor for markets that was highlighted was concentration – for example when only a small number of countries account for the vast majority of international exports – and thinness of trade - when only a small proportion of global production enters the international market. Both were linked to the potential of increased price volatility which could harm food security. On the theme of improving trust in markets, communication with policy makers, consumers and other food-system summit participants was also identified as being of growing importance. While it was recognised that some parties have developed a preference for localised supply chains within the global food system, it was hoped that dialogue would demonstrate the difficulties this would pose to the supply of grains around the world, and of the immense danger that any efforts to decrease liquidity in markets and create further concentration would constitute to food security, particularly f Read less

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Governance, Policy, Trade-offs

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