Regional Trade for Food Security

The Food & Business Knowledge Platform will develop a knowledge agenda on this theme of regional trade for food security. So far, activities of the Platform have consisted of preparing a Food & Business Research call in early 2014 – this was a joint exercise by the Steering Committee of the Platform and NWO-WOTRO with technical input from the Office of the Platform.

The Food & Business Global Challenges Programme (GCP) will finance research projects for which proposals were submitted after the publication of the call for proposals in April 2014. At present, the WOTRO assessment procedure for submitted projects is still ongoing.

The GCP funded research projects may include a critical analysis of regional trade and/or of supporting interventions to improve and stimulate innovation in agricultural market systems. Research outcomes are expected to help the design of specific measures, practical programs and integrated policies with the aim to increase regional trade efficiency and the impact on food markets and food and nutrition security. The projects are carried out by consortia consisting of research organizations from The Netherlands and from LIMCs together with other public or private (for-profit and not for- profit) organizations¹. Research and innovation, knowledge sharing and capacity development and training are integral parts of GCP funded research processes.

The Platform’s Knowledge Agenda on Regional Trade for Food Security will build on the above GCP proposals but can address other issues and involve additional stakeholders. On the one hand, the research projects funded through the GCP and their relevant stakeholders will be invited and encouraged to participate in knowledge sharing and joint debate during the implementation of their research projects (with a duration of either 2-3 years or 4-5 years). On the other hand, there is room to articulate other (specific) knowledge questions on regional trade and its relation to food security, to involve a variety of relevant networks with interest in this area, and to use various knowledge sharing methodologies such as debates, overview articles, online exchanges. The FoodFirst Vijverbergsessie organized by FoodFirst in July 2014 is an example of the latter.

Networks, businesses, organizations and institutions with an interest in the role of regional trade for food security are invited to share their thoughts about this knowledge agenda with . Your suggestions for additional articles and background papers for this website are most welcome as well.