G/AG/GEN/218  
 
21 March 2023  
(23-2030) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT OF THE 104TH MEETING OF THE  
WTO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE - 27-28 MARCH 2023  
Submission by World Food Programme (WFP)  
The following submission, dated 20 March 2023, is being circulated at the request of the World  Food 
Programme (WFP).  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN GLOBAL FOOD INSECURITY  
1.1.  The largest food and nutrition crisis in modern history continues to unfold in 2023.  Across the 
79 countries where WFP has operations and regularly collects data, 345 mi llion people are estimated 
to be acutely food insecure.1 
1.2.  Net food -importing developing countries (NFIDCs)2 are home to 250 million – or three out of 
four – acutely food insecure people. Except for Nigeria, all countries with population expected to fall 
in famine -like conditions ( IPC phase 5) in 2023 belong to the group of NFIDCs. These are 
Burkina  Faso, Haiti, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.3 
1.3.  The hunger and malnutrition crisis continues to be driven by various converging factors: 
conflict, climate extremes, economic shocks and soaring fertilizer prices that disrupt food production.  
1.4.  Conflict remains the main driver of hunger in most of the worl d's food crises, displacing farmers, 
destroying agricultural assets and food stocks, disrupting markets and supply chains, driving up 
prices and damaging livelihoods. Armed violence severely limits humanitarian actors from reaching 
communities in need.4 
1.5.  Climate shocks continue to drive food and nutrition insecurity, and in some cases, exacerbate 
conflicts. Recent events in Türkiye and Syria, historic floods in Pakistan, Zambia and Mozambique, 
heatwaves, as well as failed rains in the Horn of Africa, Iraq, Syria and Angola, and the increasing 
possibilities of El Niño and further global temperature rise, exemplify the need for continued disaster 
preparedness and response.5 
1.6.  The slowdown of the global economy is expected to continue in 2023, along with the ris ing cost 
of credit, persistently high prices of key commodities such as energy, fertilizer, and food. Small and 
undiversified economies that strongly depend on trade and external financing are particularly 
vulnerable to these turbulent commercial and finan cial markets.6  
 
1 WFP, February 2023, WFP Global Operational Response Plan: Update #7 – February 2023 . 
2 WTO, WTO list of NFIDCs for the purposes of the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on measures 
concerning the possible negative effects of the reform programme on LDCs and NFIDCs . 
3 WFP Global Operational Response Plan: Update #7 – February 2023 . 
4 Ibidem . 
5 Ibidem . 
6 Ibidem . G/AG/GEN/218  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.7.  Despite a continuous decrease since April 2022, international prices for basic foodstuffs remain 
at levels only matched during previous food crises.7 The FAO Food Price Index currently stands 28 % 
higher than in December 2019, just before the start of the COVID -19 pandemic.8 With rising food 
prices, the nutrition situation is deteriorating, particularly in fragile settings where access to sufficient 
nutritious food is already limited. On average, a 5 % rise in the real price of food increases the risk 
of wasting by almost 9 % globally.9 
1.8.  Although the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) has contributed significantly to mitigating price 
increase and supporting availability since its implementation in mid -2022, the Initiative needs to be 
extended periodically, adding uncertainty to an already volatile global market. While the recent 
renewal represents a promising result , there are concerns about new market disruptions in case of 
delays for future extensions. S ince the BSGI was launched in July 2022, the UN Joint Coordination 
Centre has facilitated the outbound passage of over 24 million metric tons of food commodities (as 
of 13 March 2023).10 
1.9.  Food import bills for LDCs and NFIDCs are estimated to have risen con siderably in 2022 – by 
10% (USD 4.9 billion) for LDCs and 17 % (USD 21.7 billion) for NFIDCs. This rise was almost entirely 
driven by high prices. None of the increase in the LDC food import bill, and only USD 3.9 billion of 
the increase in the NFIDC food i mport bill, was on account of higher import volumes. This is an 
indication of growing challenges to finance food imports.11 
1.10.  Plummeting currencies add to these difficulties. Currencies of 18 NFIDCs have lost 15 % or 
more of their value within the last year. Ten of them even saw their currency lose at least 30 % in 
value year -on-year.12 For these countries, a 17 -percent increase in the USD -denominated food 
import bill translates into a much higher percentage increase in local currency.  
1.11.  Increased costs for food imports drive up domestic food inflation, thereby putting access to 
food at risk. One in three NFIDCs (27 NFIDCs) currently experiences food inflation of 15 % or more. 
For 6 NFIDCs food prices have even increased upwards of 50 % over the last year.13 This th reatens 
access to food for those barely able to afford enough to eat in normal times.  
1.12.  Among poor countries that are reliant on food imports, have tumbling currencies and high 
food inflation, those with debt issues are in the most vulnerable position. Money  spent on debt 
service is not available anymore for other essential expenditures such as food imports.  
2  WFP RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS  
2.1.  With reference to the Work Plan of the WTO Committee on Agriculture (documents G/AG/35 
and RD/AG/103), there are three areas where relevant WFP updates can be provided: food 
assistance, resilience strengthening, and partnerships with other international organizations.  
2.2.  In collaboration with its partners, WFP continues to scale up direct food and nutrition assistance 
to provide life -saving assistance to the most vulnerable populations. In 2022, WFP reached a record 
number of people – an estimated 158 million – with food, cash, and commodity vouchers. This is 
the largest number ever assisted in the organization 's history .  
2.3.  The food procured by WFP in 2022 amounted to 4.2 million metric tons, valued at 
USD 3.3 billion.  Over one -third ( 34%) of these food purchases (both in terms of volume and value) 
was from LDCs and NFIDCs. The full breakdown by country is contained in Annex 1.14  
 
7 Ibidem . 
8 FAO, World Food Situation . 
9 IFPRI, Food Inflation and Child Undernutrition in Low and Middle Income . Countries, November 2022, 
https://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/136457/filename/136668.pd .  
10 https://www.un.org/en/black -sea-grain-initiative/vessel -movements .  
11 FAO, November 2022, Food Outlook – November 2022 . 
12 Trading Economics, Currencies , accessed 07/03/2023 , and February 2023 WFP analysis . 
13 Trading Economics, Food Inflation , accessed 02/03/2023, and February 2023 WFP analysis . 
14 Since the approval of the MC12 Decision to exempt WFP from export restrictions, WFP procured 
globally 3.2 million metric tons, worth USD 2.4 billion. The proportion of purchases from EU member States  
accounted for 9% of total volume and 17% of value purch ased by WFP. The main commodities purchased were G/AG/GEN/218  
 
- 3 - 
 
  2.4.  In 2022, in line with its Local and Regional Food Procurement Policy , WFP purchased 50% of 
the food used for its operations on local and regional markets, amounting to USD 1.6 billion in value. 
Of this total amount, 123,000 metric tons was procured from smallholder farmers, representing 
USD 71 million in value.  
2.5.  A key element of this Policy is a clause permitting the payment of a premium to purchase a 
commodity locally, compared to the cost of an imported purch ase. The procurement action, coupled 
with interventions such as post -harvest loss training, aims to provide support to local farmers, and 
provide income for livelihood creation.15  
2.6.  WFP also supports food systems by improving local production capacities thr ough land 
rehabilitation and restoration, infrastructure improvements, and natural resources management. To 
boost the resilience of fragile food systems, WFP is building a greater internal capacity and guidance 
with regards to post -harvest loss (PHL) manag ement, especially for grains. Four pilot ventures are 
ongoing in South Sudan, Mozambique, Zambia, and Rwanda, with these PHL activities 
complementing existing resilience projects targeting host communities and forcibly displaced 
populations.16  
2.7.  WFP continu es to work very closely with its partners in addressing the global food crisis. WFP 
continues to actively participate in discussions with the World Bank, the International Monetary 
Fund, and others on coordinated responses to food security concerns. The up coming 2023 Spring 
meetings will be another opportunity to engage on key priorities and further advance discussions. 
One of these priorities is a joint World Bank and WFP workshop on Strategic Grain Reserves.  
2.8.  As underscored by the third joint statement by WFP, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization 
(FAO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the World Trade Organization 
(WTO), short -term urgent interventions should be coupled with longer -term resilience efforts to 
respond to the curre nt global food security crisis. These include concerted actions to provide life -
saving food and nutritional assistance, facilitate trade and promote shock responsive social 
protection strategies.17 
2.9.  2023 is another year of extreme jeopardy for those struggl ing to feed their families. Avoiding 
the worsening of the global food crisis will require more commitment and resources than ever before. 
WFP remains engaged to work with its partners providing relief to the severely vulnerable, while 
supporting longer -term solutions to ensure food security around the world, towards the ultimate 
goal of Zero Hunger.   
 
specialized nutritious foods, canned meat and beans, sunflower oil, wheat, gofio, and salt. Further details are 
contained in Annex 1.  
15 WFP Global Operational Response Plan: Update #7 – February 2023  
16 https://executiveboard.wfp.org/document_download/WFP -0000146953  
17 https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2023/02/08/joint -statement -on-the-global -food-and-
nutrition -security -crisis  G/AG/GEN/218  
 
- 4 - 
 
  ANNEX 1 – DETAILS ON WFP PURCHASES IN 20221 
WFP food purchases from Least Developed Countries2 in 2022  
Origin Country  Value (USD)  Quantity  
(MT)  
Afghanistan  103,204,234  189,004  
Bangladesh  3,917,439  3,381  
Benin  4,408,519  8,750  
Burkina Faso  44,542,950  60,122  
Burundi  5,737,179  5,949  
Central African Republic  1,205,264  1,939  
Chad 11,748,665  26,000  
Democratic Republic of the Congo  16,052,798  20,896  
Ethiopia  34,045,243  46,437  
The Gambia  629,114  864 
Guinea  1,179,810  1,508  
Guinea -Bissau  534,096  658 
Haiti 1,549,491  1,086  
Lesotho  163,520  448 
Liberia  228,187  289 
Madagascar  5,635,347  3,681  
Malawi  2,838,945  4,433  
Mali 784,745  1,063  
Mozambique  23,114,679  46,781  
Myanmar  30,266,368  68,498  
Nepal  110,741  116 
Niger  40,279,481  70,789  
Rwanda  75,469,465  49,583  
Sao Tome and Principe  77,514  78 
Senegal  63,119  75 
Sierra Leone  111,086  132 
South Sudan  4,616,000  13,000  
Sudan  29,446,171  64,648  
Timor -Leste  44,791  15 
Togo 512,231  865 
Uganda  39,757,306  69,112  
United Republic of Tanzania  21,218,384  51,045  
Yemen  15,656,156  23,056  
Zambia  5,772,054  18,496  
TOTAL  524,921,092  852,795  
% (Food purchases from LDCs over total 
food purchases)  16% 20% 
 
 
1 Please note that the WFP food purchase figures are preliminary and subject to adjustments.  
2 Based on the latest list from UN: https://www.un.org/dev elopment/desa/dpad/wp -
content/uploads/sites/45/publication/ldc_list.pdf   G/AG/GEN/218  
 
- 5 - 
 
  WFP Food Purchases from Net food -importing developing countries (outside of LDC)3 
in 2022 
Origin Country  Value (USD)  Quantity  
(MT)  
Barbados  358,056  154 
Dominican Republic  190,906  513 
Egypt  58,484,849  42,270  
Eswatini  261,599  724 
Honduras  9,536,285  8,608  
Jordan  60,767,788  86,391  
Kenya  65,666,661  32,486  
Morocco  53,711,595  43,343  
Namibia  51,974  177 
Pakistan  320,246,301  386,921  
Tunisia  545,995  593 
Venezuela , Bolivarian Republic of  8,200,775  6,195  
TOTAL  578,022,784  608,375  
 
Data on food procured from the EU member States  post-MC12 Decision to exempt WFP 
from export restrictions (quantity/commodities)  
Origin Country  Total value (USD)  Total quantity  
(MT)  
Belgium  96,808,541  77,200  
Bulgaria  1,267,964  905 
France  200,921,773  62,723  
Hungary  9,543,057  6,012  
Poland  65,661,176  18,197  
Romania  53,774,858  124,053  
Spain  1,138,804  851 
TOTAL EU  429,116,173  289,941  
 
 
__________  
 
3 Based on the latest list from WTO: 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?Query=(@Symbol=%20g/ag/5*% 20)&Langua
ge=ENGLISH&Context=FomerScriptedSearch&languageUIChanged=true#