G/AG/GEN/188  
 
8 June 2021  
(21-4687) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT TO THE 98TH REGULAR MEETING  
OF THE WTO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE  
 
"COVID -19 AND AGRICULTURE"  
SUBMISSION BY THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME  (WFP)  
The following submission, dated 8 June 2021, is being circulated at the request of the World Food 
Programme (WFP).  
 
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1.1.  As underlined in the recently published 2021 Global Report on Food Crises  (GRFC), the 
magnitude and severity of food crises worsened in 2020 due to the compounding effects of 
protracted conflict, the economic fallout of COVID -19 and weather extremes, which exacerbated 
pre-existing fragilities. A grim outlook is maint ained for 2021, with the threat of famine persisting 
in some of the world 's worst food crises. Projections of the UN World Food Programme  (WFP) 
estimate that 270 million people are either affected by acute food insecurity or are at high risk 
in 2021, inclu ding 34 million people teetering on the very edge of famine. Given this rapidly 
deteriorating landscape, the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 
Nations  (FAO) have issued a special Call for Action to Avert a Famine in 2021 . 
1.2.  According to the GRFC, economic shocks - including those produced by COVID -19 - are 
amongst the major drivers of global food crises in  2020. The multiple shocks to incomes led to a 
sharp reduction in households ' capacity to purchase sufficient food, both in terms of quantity and 
quality. Supply chain disruptions contributed to abrupt food price spikes, especially during the initial 
period of the pandemic following movement restrictions and sustained high levels thereafter.  
1.3.  Besides, the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) increased for the twelfth consecutive month 
in May 2021. This was the largest month -on-month rise in more than a decade, which took the index 
to levels not seen since September 2011.1 The W FP is concerned about the impact this trend will 
have on vulnerable people.  
1.4.  Under these circumstances, it is of paramount importance to ensure well -functioning food 
supply chains. As mentioned on previous occasions, any export restrictions or quotas would 
inevitably hamper the timely and efficient delivery of life -saving assistanc e to the most vulnerable. 
Hence, any measure adopted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Member s to facilitate the 
smooth movement of WFP 's goods for humanitarian purposes will help saving lives.  
1.5.  The timeliness and relevance of such actions have been und erscored on multiple fronts.  
1.6.  Since her first days in service, the newly appointed WTO Director -General, 
Dr Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala, has been calling for a removal of export restrictions, including a favourable 
consideration  of the exemption of WFP humanitaria n purchases, defining the matter "possible for an 
early agreement ",2 and reiterating her support for this issue over the following months.  
1.7.  In a recent report, the International Institute for Sustainable Development noted that major 
importing and exporting nations have "a particular responsibility " to help safeguard the stability of 
 
1 FAO Food Price Index, http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ . 
2 https://docs.wto. org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/Jobs/GC/250.pdf&Open=True . G/AG/GEN/188  
 
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  global food markets, and provided recommendations on how trad e policy can help governments 
anticipate and respond to food system shocks.3 Supporting a draft decision to exempt the WFP from 
export restrictions or prohibitions on foodstuffs purchased for non -commercial humanitarian 
purposes featured as the first reco mmendation to ensure food access to poor consumers.  
1.8.  Fruitful discussions were also held at the WTO to exempt WFP's food purchases from export 
restrictions . In December 2020, Singapore presented at the WTO General Council a proposal co -
sponsored by 86 Membe rs. Although the required unanimous approval was unfortunately not 
reached, over eighty WTO Member s voluntarily signed a Joint Statement on Agriculture Export 
Prohibitions or Re strictions Relating of the World Food Programme  to voice their commitment.  
1.9.  The forthcoming WTO 12th Ministerial Conference represents a key opportunity for the WTO to 
contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 on "Zero hunger ", towards ending hunger and 
malnutrition. In these unprecedented times, we are all called to join efforts to ensure that life-saving 
assistance reaches the hands of crises -affected populations when and where needed. The WFP 
therefore welcomes any action in support of the proposal to exempt its food purchases from export 
restrictions, which, if approved, would make a differen ce for the food security of the future 
generations.  
 
 
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3 https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021 -04/trade -policy -address -food-system -shocks -en.pdf .