The side event held at the Trade and Investment House during COP29 took place on 19th November. Organised by the World Trade Organization (WTO), it featured the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) as a key guest.

 

 

The global community is confronted with an increasingly urgent challenge: balancing the surging demand for agricultural products with the critical need for the efficient and responsible use of natural resources. This includes safeguarding biodiversity, soil fertility, and water, all of which are essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. As the world grapples with these complexities, this event will serve as a crucial platform for WTO Members to share their national experiences in crafting agricultural policies and implementing best practices that promote sustainable production.

Through in-depth discussions, the event will highlight innovative approaches, actionable solutions, and comprehensive policy frameworks designed to foster sustainable agricultural production and trade. Participants will explore how trade policies can be effectively leveraged to support sustainable agricultural practices, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to food security and broader economic development. A central focus will be the urgent need for reform in trade-distorting subsidies, which continue to exert significant environmental pressures, exacerbating the challenges of achieving sustainability in agriculture. By addressing these issues, the event aims to drive meaningful progress toward a more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible global agricultural system.

Ms Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary-General, Environment & Climate Action, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, shared some of the key obstacles the Member States face in achieving this balance.  With climate-related risks mounting—especially for vulnerable small island nations— she highlighted specific measures being implemented to ensure food security and enhance the resilience of the agricultural sectors to climate change.