Canadian farm leaders endorse Call for Coherence

Sunday, June 19, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

Canadian farm leaders have joined a worldwide coalition of farm groups in calling for international trade rules to allow enough policy space for countries to meet their food security objectives.

Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg farmers joined the coalition of farm groups from 66 countries in Africa, the Americans, Asia and Europe to endorse a document called Call for Coherence. It’s a joint declaration adopted in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday by the international farm groups. It calls on governments and parliaments to acknowledge the importance of food security and the unique role agriculture and food play in trade agreements.

During a telephone press conference Monday organized by Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg sectors, David Fuller, Chicken Farmers of Canada president, said they’re questioning how simply opening markets and industry deregulation impacts farmers who produce the world’s food. Coalition leaders also question if that’s really the best way forward.

Farm leaders who endorsed the Call for Coherence declaration say improved coherence is needed between the agricultural industry and negotiators of world trade or other international agreements, such as ones to reduce worldwide hunger or poverty or ones that make commitments to address climate change and biodiversity.

“Trade liberalization for the sake of liberalization is like a race to the bottom,”  Fuller says. It can’t address some of the other internationally important issues, such as peoples’ right to decent work, adequate income, suitable living conditions and enough food. “These issues need to be taken into account when negotiating trade deals.”

The Canadian farm group leaders were in Brussels Monday for the launch of the Call for Coherence declaration.  It comes on the eve of the G20 agriculture ministers’ meeting in Paris. BF