G/AG/GEN/140  
 
13 March 2017  
(17-1433) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
SUBMISSION BY THE IN TERNATIONAL FOOD POL ICY RESEARCH INSTITU TE 
REQUEST FOR AD HOC O BSERVER STATUS IN TH E WTO COMMITTEE ON A GRICULTURE  
SUBMISSION BY IFPRI  
The following submission, dated 9th March  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
Internationa l Food Policy Research Institute  (IFPRI ). 
 
_______________  
 
 
1.1.  IFPRI is a non -governmental organization  (NGO)  that envisions a world  without  hunger and 
malnutrition.  To achieve this goal, IFPRI provides  research -based policy solutions to sustainably 
reduce p overty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries . 
1.2.  IFPRI focuses on six strategic areas to fulfill its mission:  
 ensuring sustainable food production ; 
 promoting healthy food systems ; 
 improving markets and trade ; 
 transforming agriculture ; 
 buildi ng resilience ; and  
 strengthening  institutions and governance.  
Research on gender cuts across all six areas, because understanding the relationships between 
women and men can illuminate the pathway to sustainable and inclusive economic development.   
1.3.  In lig ht of u nprecedented challenges in a rapidly changing global food policy landscape , 
IFPRI  devises  innovative approaches to research and methodology, data collection, survey 
creation, and policy recommendations. IFPRI research  on the causes and impacts of  challenges 
faced by  developing countries  (e.g., trade, urbanization, food-price volatil ity, food security, 
energy, water, and climate change ) informs policy  makers  and decision mak ers across the world .  
1.4.  Trade, investment, and improving public -private partner ships are significant areas of study at 
IFPRI. The Institute’s  Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division , in particular,  focuses on issues 
such as reforming trade policy to remove barriers to trade and minimize the negative impact of 
market shocks on count ries with vulnerable growing economies . IFPRI also provides  policy makers 
and investors with trusted open -source data  on private -sector opportunities and growth and 
development trends in agricultur e in all parts of the world .  
1.5.  IFPRI collaborates with  gover nments , agencies, and  NGOs globally . With offices in Africa, 
Asia, and the Middle East, IFPRI  can respond immediately  to food -related  crises.  The Institute has 
strong  relationships with  UN agencies such as FAO and IFAD as well as with bilateral aid agencie s 
such as USAID  or academic institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences . 
Through these partnerships and the research and capacity building that IFPRI provides, the 
Institute has helped to improve policy design at the local, regional a nd national levels in a number 
of countries while providing public goods supporting trade negotiations.  
1.6.  For these reasons, and with the aim of strengthening ties and technical cooperation with the 
WTO in the areas of trade negotiations, agriculture, invest ment, supporting an inclusive and 
sustainable globalization process and fostering growth in developing countries, IFPRI hereby  
request s that the WTO  consider granting IFPRI  ad hoc observer status in the regular meetings of 
the Committee on Agriculture.  
 
__________