Bürgi Bonanomi, Elisabeth --- "Right to food, sustainable development and trade: all faces of the same cube?" [2012] ELECD 1051; in Rayfuse, Rosemary; Weisfelt, Nicole (eds), "The Challenge of Food Security" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012) 70

Book Title: The Challenge of Food Security

Editor(s): Rayfuse, Rosemary; Weisfelt, Nicole

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9780857939371

Section: Chapter 4

Section Title: Right to food, sustainable development and trade: all faces of the same cube?

Author(s): Bürgi Bonanomi, Elisabeth

Number of pages: 23

Abstract/Description:

The global agricultural system is both complex and flawed. International trade in agriculture is highly distorted. While more than half the population in developing countries obtains its livelihood from agriculture, compared to less than 10 per cent in developed countries, only a small percentage of internationally traded food comes from developing countries. Food price volatility is high. Biofuels and futures transactions exacerbate the increase in food prices. Differences in governmental support are huge, with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries spending a significant part of their budget on agricultural subsidies. On average, tariffs on agricultural products are still much higher than tariffs on industrial goods. In particular, processed agricultural goods, which come with an added value, are protected from competition from the South. In contrast, many developing countries have significantly liberalised their agricultural sector as a result of conditions linked to structural adjustment programmes.