Slade, Melanie Vilarasau --- "Is there a role for international law in supporting systemic solutions to the food security challenge?" [2016] ELECD 287; in Ewing-Chow, Michael; Vilarasau Slade, Melanie (eds), "International Trade and Food Security" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016) 168

Book Title: International Trade and Food Security

Editor(s): Ewing-Chow, Michael; Vilarasau Slade, Melanie

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781785361883

Section: Chapter 10

Section Title: Is there a role for international law in supporting systemic solutions to the food security challenge?

Author(s): Slade, Melanie Vilarasau

Number of pages: 23

Abstract/Description:

The role of international law – and in particular international economic law – in supporting food security is a source of division and controversy. It is criticized both for leaving inadequate domestic policy space for the implementation of effective food security policies and for failing to effectively constrain governments to put these policies in place. Trade and investment law in particular are seen variously as the problem and the potential solution to many of the food security challenges we face. Given this, it is interesting to note that, of the many of the international initiatives that have taken place since the 2008 food crisis, few if any advocate significant reform of international law beyond trade reform envisaged in 2001. To explore this apparent contradiction further, this chapter aims to outline the principal international initiatives in the field of food security, identify areas of proposed reform where collaborative solutions are required and encourage discussion of the limitations and potential for international law to support a systemic approach to food security.