FAO Press Conference: Media launch of the FAO State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) 2024

10:26

MP4

627 MB

27-11-2024

Press Conferences | FAO

FAO Press Conference: Media launch of the FAO State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) 2024

ENG FRA

Speakers:

George Rapsomanikis, FAO Senior Economist, Lead author of SOCO 2024,
Nancy Aburto, FAO Deputy Director of the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN)
Andrea Zimmermann, FAO Economist (EST)

Teleprompter

Alright, so I think we can start the press conference.

Hello, good morning and thank you for joining the FAO press conference at the UN office at Geneva.

Today's press conference will cover the launch of the report The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2024, also known as the SOKO Report, published by FAO SOCO 20.

SOCO 2024 will present the latest updates focusing on agricultural trade, on its patterns and dynamics, and on the policy environment in which it occurs.

Today we have with us George Repsomanekis, the FAO Senior Economist, who is also the lead author of the report.

Now Please note that this report and press conference are under embargo and the embargo will be lifted on 29th November 2024 at 10 AM Central European time.

We initially informed you a later time, but we are confirming that 10 AM will be the time when the embargo will be lifted.

So please kindly respect the embargo.

We also with we also have with us Nancy Alberto, FAO, Deputy Director of the Food and Nutrition Division and Andrea Zimmerman, FAO economist, joining us online connecting from Rome.

They will be available to provide further insights and answer questions.

And without further ado, I would like to invite George to the floor.

Thank you very much Key and good morning ladies and gentlemen.

Many thanks for joining us in this press briefing.

Our diets are saved by many drivers, economic such as such as income growth and the rise of the modern food industry, demographic and social like urbanisation and lifestyle changes and cultural factors that also determine preferences.

Trade can also affect what we eat.

In the State of Agricultural Commodity Markets report, we assess trade effects on the composition of food that is available for consumption.

This is an important part of the food environment which can shape nutritional outcomes.

We look at food diversity, nutrient adequacy, food prices and the role of trade agreements in affecting the composition of food import demand on average and across countries.

We find that trade can promote better nutrition.

Not all countries have the resources such as land and water and favour of climate to produce efficient quantities of a diverse range of foods to support nutrition.

[Other language spoken]

But this can be addressed through trade, which can expand food diversity, promote a more equal distribution of nutrients across countries and lower food prices.

These improve both the availability and access to diverse foods.

In fact, trade can expand food diversity twofold and the diversity of food supplies can contribute to the nutrient adequacy of diets.

So based on these findings, we can say that on average, openness to trade contributes towards nutritional outcomes.

In most cases, self-sufficiency, even if if attained in terms of calories, cannot support a diverse food supply and nutrient adequacy.

At the same time.

Trade is an accelerator of changes in dietary patterns.

It can increase the availability of both nutritious foods and foods with low nutritional value that are **** in fats, sugar and or salt.

And This is why trade effects can be sometimes heterogeneous across countries in some specific context.

Especially in countries that are highly food import dependent and have limited food production capacity, trade could contribute towards an obesogenic environment.

Examples of such countries include the small island developing States and some countries in the Near East North Africa regions.

For these countries there is need to develop trade policies that are coherent with nutrition measures.

For example, reducing or eliminating tariffs on fruit and vegetables can promote healthier diets.

Nutrition labelling and non tariff measure provides consumer with additional information and increases awareness for healthier food choices.

There are complementary policies like excise taxes on sugar sweetened softer drinks that can be effective in addressing nutritional objectives.

What is important is that in the negotiations for trade agreements, there is a need to promote the engagement of stakeholders, all stakeholders, especially those related to nutrition and public health, and to increase transparency.

This can enrich the debate and can ensure that increased trade will address food security, economic and nutritional objectives.

Thank you very much.

Now thank you very much George for the comprehensive overview of the SOCO.

We've shared George George's talking points to the journalist.

So for those who would like to catch up you, you may be able to find his talking points in your mailboxes.

Now we will now open the floor for questions.

So journalists, please kindly state your organisation and name before asking your questions.

And for our speakers online, please feel free to raise your hand if you would like to add to the answers.

[Other language spoken]

All right, do I see any questions online or in the room?

Well, as we wait, perhaps I would like to inform you that the official launch of the SOCO report will take place this Friday on 29th November 2024 at 10 AM Central European time.

So for those who are interested, you will be able to follow the official launch through the FAO webcast link as well.

So, and for those interested, please feel free to send me a message or an e-mail and I'll be happy to share the link now.

So I don't see any questions, but Nancy, Andrea, if you would like to add something in the meantime, please feel free to add any comments.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for the opportunity and thank you to my colleague George for presenting the summary of the important so-called report being launched on Friday.

I just wanted to add that this report from a nutritional perspective is is groundbreaking in its ability to look at the movement of of nutrients in trade.

This is an important advancement in the data that we have available for looking not only of the movement of food in terms of calories or in terms of dollar amounts, but also in terms of nutrients.

And that very important contribution highlights the importance of trade or the availability of the vitamins and minerals that we need in our diets.

So we're highlighting diversity of food because diversity of food is related to the availability of those vitamins and minerals.

But we also have a very advanced methodology where we can really dig into what that that means practically.

For example, a increase in the availability of calcium or the availability of vitamin C in certain populations where where foods that are **** and those nutrients are aren't available without trade.

So though indeed the report focuses on the complexity of the relationship of food, excuse me, of trade and diets and the nutrition outcomes, it's also a very important and novel contribution in being able to look more detailed into that complexity to highlight how important trade is for our food systems.

But how we can also approach this in a coherent manner in terms of the development of our policies across Bush trade and nutrition so that we can achieve those objectives for sustainable development?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Nancy.

Andrea, please feel free to join.

If if not, I think we could wrap up the press conference.

So as as mentioned before the press, the report will be launched this Friday and you we will send you the press release, the meet other media materials including the in brief and the full report to you when it's available.

So and please let us know if you have any follow up questions or interview requests and we'd be very happy to facilitate.

With this.

We will conclude the Circle press conference and we wish you a lovely day and thank you very much.