IPC Hosting Two Events on Biofuels

The use of biofuels derived from agricultural feedstock has increased exponentially in the last few years, and trade flows are increasing. In light of this growht, questions relating to the impact of government support measures on international trade are being raised along with calls for greater transparency.

Classifying Biofuels Subsidies: Farm Bill and WTO Considerations

September 14, 2010

Washington, DC

>agenda     > registration.

Clarifying WTO Rules for Biofuels

September 17, 2010

Geneva, Switzerland

> registration

IPC Position Paper on Biofuels Subsidies in the U.S., EU, and Brazil

An International Seminar on Carbon Standards in Agricultural Production and Trade

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On October 26 in Sao Paulo Brazil, IPC will gather high-level representatives from agribusiness, farm associations, governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, and academia from around the world for a discussion on carbon standards in agricultural production and trade.  Topics to be examined include:

• Are standards an effective method for promoting sustainability?
• What’s the interplay between public and private standards?
• Who has a seat at the table when standards are set?
• Is harmonization a realistic and feasible goal?
• Issues surrounding biofuels sustainability standards
• Carbon footprinting – is there a common understanding of what a life cycle analysis should entail?
• Monitoring and verification

>Full Agenda

NTM-IMPACT Project

The goal of the project, in which IPC is one of 19 international project partners, is to collect and analyze new data on non-tariff measures (NTMs), particularly on governmental standards and regulations that prescribe the conditions for EU agri-food exports and compares these with conditions for importing into the EU. Furthermore, impacts from EU and trade partner NTMs on least developing country (LDC) exports are examined.

African Agri-Food Exports to the US: Facing Challenges of Sanitary & Phytosanitary Standards and Tariff-Rate Quotas

The African Growth and Opportunity Act has strengthened U.S.-Africa trade ties, but the $1.2.-1.4 billion in food and agricultural goods the U.S. purchases from Africa each year are only a small fraction of the total value of U.S. imports from the continent.  Please join the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council and the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa on July 28, 2010 in Washington, DC for the release and discussion of two policy briefs, which analyze and seek to improve upon the disappointing performance of African food and agricultural exports to the U.S.

Agricultural Price Volatility: Prospects, Challenges and Possible Solutions

The agricultural sector has been deeply battered by both the food and financial crises and faces a looming climate change crisis.  Projections differ on whether commodity prices will continue their long-term decline of the last decades or experience a reversal of this trend, but experts agree that price volatility is likely to grow in the future.  Price volatility presents different sets of challenges to consumers and producers throughout the world and a grave risk to the food security of millions of people in developing countries.  This seminar brought together agriculture and trade experts from around the world to examine current and projected trends in prices, review past policy responses, discuss policy options available today, and arrive at pragmatic recommendations for addressing volatility in the future.

ICTSD-IPC Platform on Climate Change, Agriculture and Trade

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IPC and ICTSD have launched an international platform on Climate Change, Agriculture and Trade.  This interdisciplinary platform of climate change, agricultural and trade experts will promote increased policy coherence to ensure effective climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security and a more open and equitable global food system.

About IPC

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IPC promotes a more open and equitable global food system by pursuing pragmatic trade and development policies in food and agriculture to meet the world's growing needs. Find out more.