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OECD Global Forum on Agriculture 2011

Improving Agricultural Market Information and Analysis for Better Policy Decisions and Enhanced Food Security

OECD Conference Centre, Paris, 28 November 2011

Building on the concerns expressed by G20 agriculture ministers at their June 2011 meeting,  the OECD Global Forum on Agriculture 2011 had as its focus improving agricultural market information and analysis for better policy decisions and enhanced food security.

In addition to covering the newly-launched Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS), the Forum looked at the medium-term commodity outlook and scenario analysis, capacity building actions and technical assistance. Discussion centred on how improved market information and outlook analysis can lead to better policy actions and improved policy coherence and coordination in response to future price spikes/ food crisis events.

Participants were encouraged to explore the advantages of international cooperation in such work and look at ways in which governments can better coordinate their policy responses to periodic market shocks so as to mitigate the negative impacts of excessive price volatility.

• Chair's Summary Report
  
  

Morning Session:
The morning session started with a discussion of the role, structure, needs and deliverables of the new, G20 mandated Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and on the enhanced international policy coordination this initiative is expected to facilitate.

Since AMIS will depend heavily on national market information systems, the strengths and weaknesses of these systems were also discussed.

Presentations

• Stéphane Le-Moing, Chef du service des relations internationales, Agriculture, Alimentation et Politique territoriale, Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche, France
  Overview of the AMIS market information and policy initiative
• Hafez Ghanem, Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Development, FAO
  AMIS inputs and outputs
• Carmel Cahill, Senior Counsellor, Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD
  International policy coordination - OECD
• Christopher Delgado, Strategy and Policy Advisor, Agriculture and Rural Development Department, World Bank
  International policy coordination - World Bank
• John Tjaardstra, Assistant Executive Director, IGC
  International Grains Council
• Tahlim Sudaryanto, Assistant Minister, Indonesia Ministry of Agriculture
  Developing country perspective
• Joseph Glauber, Chief Economist, USDA
  Developed country perspective

Afternoon Session:
The afternoon session looked at the current practices, areas for improvements and opportunities for broader collaborative efforts to better understand longer term market trends, to develop consensus market projections and undertake scenario analyses.

In addition, the needs, past experiences and best practices for national level capacity building and technical assistance were examined.

Presentations

• Wayne Jones, Head, Agro-food Trade and Markets Division, OECD
  OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook process and partnerships
• Merritt Cluff, Coordinator, Trade and Markets Division, FAO
  OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook process and partnerships
• Naman Keita, CountrySTAT Manager, Statistics Division, FAO
  Global strategy to improve agricultural and rural statistics
• Carlos Seré, Chief Development Strategist, IFAD
  Country level capacity building and technical assistance in market analysis    

Objectives
The agricultural sector remains of primary importance for many non-OECD economies therefore the aim of the Global Forum on Agriculture is to foster an informed dialogue between OECD member and non-member economies on agricultural policies issues. This dialogue is based on regular monitoring and analysis to evaluate and strengthen the process of policy reform and trade liberalisation through forward-looking analysis, and addresses emerging agricultural policy issues.

Topics
Themes for the Global Forum on Agriculture have revolved around the linkages between domestic policy reform, trade liberalisation, economic growth and poverty reduction, but the focus has been on agricultural policy.

The issue of policy coherence for development has been addressed, in particular the kinds of policy reforms required in both developed and developing countries to enhance global agricultural trade and to reduce poverty and alleviate hunger. The Forum usually takes a global view and analytical work is examined with respect to the “real world” needs of policy makers.

Participants
Participants include official representatives from OECD members and selected non-members. Invitations are also extended to other organisations with which OECD has formal links, including other international organisations, business associations, trade unions and NGOs co-operating with the OECD, and also to a small number of experts providing invited contributions.

• Policies for Agricultural Development, Poverty Reduction and Food Security, Paris, 29-30 November 2010
• Agricultural Outlook: Preparing for the Future Paris, 29-30 June 2009
• Agricultural Policies in Emerging Economies Paris, 20-21 November 2008
• Agricultural Development and Poverty Reduction in Africa Rome, 12-13 November 2007
• Policy Developments in Non-Member Economies Paris, 20-21 November 2006
• Constraints to Development of Sub-Saharan Agriculture Paris, 16-17 May 2006
• Policy Coherence for Development Paris, 30 November - 1 December 2005
• Agricultural Policies in Developing Countries: Information Needs for Effective Policy Responses Paris, 3 December 2004