G/AG/GEN/208  
 
10 November 2022  
(22-8429) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT TO THE 103RD WTO REGULAR MEETING OF  
THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE (NOVEMBER 2022)  
Submission by the World Food Programme (WFP)  
The following submission, dated 10 November  2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
World  Food Programme (WFP ). 
 
_______________  
 
 
1  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN GLOBAL FOOD INSECURITY  
1.1.  The world is at risk of yet another year of record hunger, as the global food crisis continues to 
drive more people int o acute food insecurity. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) 
estimates that an unprecedented 345 million people will be acutely food insecure in 2022 across the 
82 countries where it operates. This represents an increase of almost 200 million peo ple from the 
pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, hunger has grown more deeply entrenched, with approximately 
50 million people in 45 countries facing severe hunger emergencies.1 
1.2.  Conflict is the top driver of acute food insecurity. Almost 60 % of the world 's hungry people live 
in areas affected by armed violence. By disrupting communications, hampering humanitarian access 
and displacing entire communities,2 conflict is the single greatest challenge to achieving zero 
hunger.3 The conflict in Ukraine has been  disrupting global trade pushing up transport costs and lead 
times, while leaving farmers lacking access to the agricultural inputs they need. The knock -on effect 
on upcoming harvests will reverberate around the world.4 
1.3.  Climate shocks are the second largest cause of food insecurity. They destroy lives, crops and 
livelihoods, undermining people 's ability to feed themselves. These shocks are increasing in 
frequency and intensity, leaving those affected no time to recover between disasters.5 Over the pa st 
decade, 1.7 billion people have been affected by extreme weather and climate -related disasters.6 
Global weather conditions in the inter -tropical areas of the globe have been dominated by La Niña 
patterns since mid -2020, expected to stay in place until early 2023.  
1.4.  Additionally, global food prices have been rising since mid -2020. The FAO Food Price Index 
reached a new all -time high in March 2022.7 Although prices appear to have started stabilizing over 
the past months - among other factors as a result o f the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) - they 
remain high. With the BSGI deadline approaching, on 18 November 2022, there are concerns about 
new market disruptions if the initiative is not renewed.  
 
1 A global food crisis like no other, October 2022, https://www.wfp.org/stories/world -food-day-soaring -
prices -soaring -hunger . 
2 https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp -calls-action -world -food-day-avoid -another -year-record -hunger .  
3 https://www.wfp.org/conflict -and-hunger .  
4 https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp -calls-action -world -food-day-avoid -another -year-record -hunger .  
5 Ibidem  
6 https://www.wfp.org/climate -action .  
7 https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ , accessed 04/11/2022 . G/AG/GEN/20 8 
 
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  1.5.  Net food importing countries are the most directly impact ed by higher food prices on global 
markets; and among them, developing countries have the least options to cope with higher costs of 
essential imports. Net food -importing developing countries (NFIDCs)8 are forecast to pay 
USD 128 billion for food imports this year, a sharp rise from USD 101 billion in 2019. While the bulk 
of this increase took place in 2021, this year 's data are particularly worrisome from a food security 
perspective as, in 2022, food import bills for NFIDCs are projected to grow despite a  contraction in 
imported volumes.9  
1.6.  Adding to these challenges, many poor countries reliant on purchasing food on global markets 
are in debt distress or at high risk thereof. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) characterizes 
28 NFIDCs as in or at high risk of debt distress – more than the fund classifies as having low 
(5 NFIDCs) or moderate (21 NFIDCs) risk of debt distress combined.10 
1.7.  This outlook is alarming, as NFIDCs are already home to three out of four of the world 's 
345 million people who ar e in or at high risk of acute food insecurity. More than 100 million acutely 
food insecure live in countries that are not only poor net -food importers, but also at high risk of, or 
already, in debt distress.  
2  WFP RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS  
2.1.  WFP's ope rational plan for 2022 is the agency 's most ambitious ever. It prioritises action to 
prevent millions of people from dying of hunger while working to stabilise – and where possible 
build – resilient national food systems and supply chains.11 In view of the  unprecedented hunger 
projections, WFP has been scaling up its operations, planning to assist 160 million people by the end 
of 2022. During the first semester, WFP already provided support to over 111 million vulnerable 
people.  
2.2.  For example, WFP increased six-fold its assistance in Sri Lanka to respond to the economic 
crisis; expanded operations to unprecedented levels in Somalia to avert famine; launched an 
emergency intervention to support the Pakistani Government 's flood response. Two out of five 
Afghans  have received WFP assistance, while new emergency operations were launched in Ukraine 
and Moldova.12 
2.3.  Collaboration with international financial institutions is also being expanded to support national 
social protection systems. Similar efforts are underway  to enhance innovative climate financing 
partnerships.13 
2.4.  In response to rising operational costs of delivering assistance and longer lead times, WFP 
continues to diversify its supplier base, including boosting local and regional procurement, 
representing s o far 47 % of the food purchased by WFP in 2022.  
2.5.  Since the approval of the MC12 Decision  to exempt WFP from export restrictions in June, WFP 
has procu red a total 1.8 million mt of food, valued at USD 1.4 billion; this represents around 50 % 
of the total value of food procured since the beginning of the year. Out of this tonnage, 191,000 mt 
(valued at USD 238 million, or 17 % of the value of food procured since June 2022) were sourced 
from countries in the European Union.  
 
8 As per the WTO list of NFIDCs for the purposes of the Marra kesh Ministerial Decision on measures 
concerning the possible negative effects on the reform programme on least -developed and net food -importing 
developing countries . 
9 FAO, June 2022, Food Outloo k - Biannual Report on Global Food Markets  
10 Based on the IMF list of LIC DSAs for PRGT -eligible countries  as of 30 September 2022  
11 https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp -calls-action -world -food-day-avoid -another -year-record -hunger .  
12 Ibidem.  
13 Ibidem.  G/AG/GEN/208  
 
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  3  PARTNERSHIPS TO TACKLE THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY CRISIS  
3.1.  As underscored by the second joint statement by WFP, the UN Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO), the IMF, the World Bank and the  World Trade Organization (WTO), maintaining 
momentum on these fronts and building resilience for the future will require a continued 
comprehensive and coordinated effort to support efficient production and trade, improve 
transparency, accelerate innovatio n and joint planning, and invest in food systems transformation.14 
3.2.  WFP would like to express its appreciation to WTO Member States for the approval of the MC12 
Decision, which, together with WFP's Local and Regional Food Procurement Policy , represents a 
significant enabler to WFP 's timely purchase of commodities locally and regionally. The unforeseen 
circumstances that have affected food supplies in 2022, forced WFP to focus its eff orts on ensuring 
the availability of sufficient commodities for its operations. As of 2023, we plan to collect and review 
our procurement data thus to provide periodic updates to the Committee on Agriculture on the MC12 
Decision.  
3.3.  WFP continues to work ver y closely with its partners in addressing the unfolding food crisis. 
In particular, WFP is part of a technical food crisis response working group, with representatives 
from the World Bank, the IMF and WTO. Discussions are ongoing on sharing of data, resour cing 
needs for countries, as well as convergence and collaboration on response mechanisms and 
initiatives to bring coherence to the response.  
3.4.  A coordinated effort across governments, financial institutions, private sector and partners is 
the only way to mitigate an even more severe global food crisis in 2023. WFP remains committed to 
work with its partners to provide relief to the severely vulnerable, while supporting longer -term 
solutions to ensure food security around the world.  
 
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14 https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2022/09/21/second -joint-statement -by-the-heads -
of-fao-imf-wbg-wfp-and-wto-on-the-global -food-security -and-nutrition -crisis.