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Markets and Trade

Trade in an evolving context: international standards, innovation and digitalization
Advances in information and communication technologies are fundamentally transforming food systems, including the ways in which agricultural trade is organized. This transformation can affect the competitiveness of different actors within value chains and presents an evolving need for analysis and technical assistance. At the same time, in developing countries there is a great need to improve capacities to meet international standards for food safety and plant and animal health so that producers can gain better access to global markets. FAO supports its Members through evidence-building on emerging issues and provides technical assistance in response to demands relating to food safety and trade facilitation, trade digitalization, and innovation, among others.
Key messages

 

Non-tariff measures, particularly procedural bottlenecks in the application of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) measures, present significant obstacles to trade.


 
New technologies that present advantages in food production, processing, handling, distribution and trade continue to be developed, but significant challenges to their widespread adoption in developing countries remain.

 

 

 FAO supports regional and national institutions to better prepare for technological and regulatory changes, to promote the effective participation of countries in the global trading system and to ensure better market access for small- and medium-scale value chain actors, including women, youth, and vulnerable groups. 
Publications
Alliances for Action: Guide for export promotion
02/09/2022

This guide presents a step-by-step approach to assist development practitioners, national authorities and the private sector in facilitating the development of export promotion programs through building multi-stakeholder value chain (VC) alliances to compete in international markets. The guide draws from the Alliances for Action (A4A) approach, which was developed by the International Trade Centre (ITC). A4A has been proven to be effective in mobilizing VC and supporting participants in an ecosystem around a shared purpose to transform VC performance in terms of competitiveness, value addition, and export growth, among other targets. This helps practitioners and value chain stakeholders understand the critical steps and processes in the establishment of successful alliances, which lead to product upgrading, the establishment of new market outlets, and the promotion of sustainable production and consumption.

No. 36 The role of digital technologies in livestock traceability and trade
10/09/2020

This policy brief provides an overview on the role of digital technologies in optimizing traceability in trade for animals and animal products. It highlights the ways in which digital technologies can the enhance performance for monitoring and controlling animal disease, managing food safety and fraud risks, complying with animal production and food standards, facilitating trade and raising consumer awareness.