GFFA panel discussion “Conducting trade, delivering trust: Quality and transparency in the international agricultural trade with Eastern Europe and Asia”

Globalisation has had a particular effect on intensifying the exchange of goods between countries and regions since the turn of the millennium. It is not only consumers that benefit from the larger range of goods available, producers in less developed regions are also able to achieve higher incomes through improved sales and distribution opportunities. Modern value chains also contribute to more diverse employment opportunities in rural regions.

However, the interweaving of trade also extends beyond classic bilateral trading. Many companies invest and produce in neighbouring countries in order to export to third countries or re-import. The trade in agricultural goods has grown enormously between the regions of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Asia in particular: a quarter of worldwide agricultural trade is undertaken in these regions.

The observance of standards and certification not only ensure delivery quality in the destination country, they also support improved production conditions in the country of origin and contribute to increased value added locally. However, insufficient access to suitable means of production and know-how as well as value chains that are not yet fully developed mean that many producers in the regions of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and East Asia do not yet satisfy the required quality standards. In addition, the low level of transparency in supply chains is a major obstacle to gaining the trust of international consumers.

In the scope of the planned panel discussion, representatives from the worlds of politics, business and science discuss the perspectives for future development of trade as an elementary component of international agricultural value added. The planned panel is also intended to act as a platform for the presentation of best-practice examples for the integration of producers from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and China into the international agricultural trade, the presentation of trends in international agricultural trading and the discussion of obstacles to implementation. Simultaneous interpretation in German, English and Chinese language will be provided.

The online registration will be closed on 15 January 2020. After that, registration will only be possible at the registration counter on site.

12th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA)
“Food for All! Trade for secure, diverse and sustainable nutrition.”
16 - 18 January 2020 ǀ Berlin, Germany