Most poor people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their food and livelihood. A recent World Bank report, Global Agricultural Trade and Developing Countries, argues that further agricultural trade liberalization is the key to improving the lives of poor people in developing countries. Agriculture is seen as the make-or-break issue in the ongoing World Trade Organization talks. But many poor people are not able to participate in the global market economy.
On April 7, 2005 The Center for Global Development, The German Marshal Fund of the U.S. and The Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted an event focused on the question of whether agricultural trade liberalization really is the best answer to improving life for people in poor nations. Other questions that were raised during the event examined: What role should concepts such as food sovereignty or the right to adequate food supplies play in global trade policy? How does the debate over securing individual livelihoods enter into such a policy?
Download the full text transcript of the event
Featured speakers at the event included:
Renate Künast - German Federal Minister of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture
William
Download his presentation slides
