Trade

Trade connects regions with an abundant and inexpensive supply of goods to regions with strong demand, contributing to food security by helping to reduce supply and demand imbalances. Trade has the potential to provide better income for farmers and greater—and less expensive—access to food for consumers. 

In today’s global economy, international agricultural trade plays an increasingly important role. With goods crossing borders, however, administrative restrictions can be used to discriminate between domestic and foreign markets and producers, thus hindering the natural movement of trade flows. This also means that policies implemented in one country to achieve certain direct effects domestically can have indirect effects for other economic agents in other countries.  IFPRI’s research helps inform the creation of domestic and international trade policies for developing countries and contributes to regional and global negotiations to promote an inclusive and efficient international trading system. IFPRI also partners with institutions to strengthen the capacities of developing nations to do their own research and independently develop long-term, sustainable policies to eradicate poverty and support food security.