Introduction/Background

The discussion focused on the rapidly changing global food and agriculture landscape, and the important implications for food security in the world’s poorest countries, the global environment, and for the global rules and institutions that govern food and agriculture. For this project, researchers are examining the nature of the changes in the global food context and their implications for global food security and the environment; furthermore, the research team will assess how governance mechanisms at the international level (e.g., institutions such as FAO, World Bank, Codex Alimentarius, OECD, Food Aid Convention, WTO, etc) are addressing these new issues. It has become apparent that the framework of the last 50 years is not appropriate for the current context, and changes must be applied to achieve environmentally sustainable food security for both rich and poor countries.

Project Activities:

A highly successful conference in December 2008 brought key thinkers around the table to discuss the global food price crisis. The findings of these discussions were published in an edited book of chapters discussing the causes, consequences and possible policy corrections for the global food crisis.

The Global Food Crisis: Governance Challenges and Opportunities
Edited by Jennifer Clapp and Mark Cohen (CIGI and WLU Press, 2009)

Partners/Collaborators:

• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)


• Oxfam International


• The Oakland Institute