13-15 July, Rome – PAM attended the 75th Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which took place in hybrid modality - both at FAO headquarters in Rome and virtually - from 13 to 15 July 2022. On this occasion, PAM was represented by a researcher from its support team.
The Committee on Commodity Problems, which meets every two years, is the governing body of FAO that monitors agricultural commodity market, deliberate on key agricultural issues, and make policy recommendation.
The meeting provided PAM with useful inputs and insights on the impacts of the current global food security crisis resulting from the Russian aggression against Ukraine, while extending the Assembly’s understanding of the repercussions of the crisis for Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf countries.
On its first day of work, the Committee reviewed the latest developments in food and agricultural markets and examined the market outlook, including medium-term projections as well as the FAO report on “The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) 2022”, which focused on the geographical aspects of food and agricultural production and trade, while analysing possible innovative policy approaches for sustainable development.
The second day focused on FAO’s work programme in commodity markets and trade under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31. In this context, the Committee welcomed the agricultural related decisions adopted in June by WTO Members at the 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva - where PAM also participated as observer – while highlighting how trade, along with efficient and sustainable food systems, plays a vital role in providing global food security in all its dimensions and in enhancing nutrition.
In its conclusions, the Committee underlined the results of several studies indicating that, due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, at the current rate prices for main cereals will further escalate from the already extraordinary levels. Consequently, the Committee warned that the risk of undernourishment will increase dramatically for vulnerable populations, especially in net-food importing and developing economies, but also for technologically advanced countries.//