Aligning global trade with nutrition for healthier and more secure food systems

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) are stressing the need to leverage international trade policies to enhance global nutrition security, reduce malnutrition and align food systems with public health goals.

Nearly 5,000 trillion kilocalories are traded daily for global nutrition security, which has reached a value of US$2.3 trillion, say WTO’s deputy director-general, Jean-Marie Paugam and GAIN’s executive director, Lawrence Haddad.

They add that trade has a human impact on malnutrition as it supports making available diverse foods, which in turn may support better diets and improve health. 

Meanwhile, trade disruptions have consequences that can lead to nutritional deficiencies, such as the case of sunflower oil supplies due to the war in Ukraine, Paugam and Haddad warn.

They suggest that trade policies prioritize healthy food choices and discourage unhealthy ones to have the maximum impact on nutrition. 

Necessity of food trade 

Paugam touts the WTO’s ability to play a key role in shifting to healthier food systems.

“Food trade is not a luxury — it is a must. Over 30 countries would face starvation if international food trade were to come to a halt.” 

“While the risk of food insecurity is severe for less developed countries that rely upon trade, dependence on trade for food security is also a concern for wealthier nations. Gulf Arab nations, facing severe water shortages, import 80–90% of their food, Singapore imports 90% and Haiti imports 50%. Globally, 25% of food production is traded internationally.”

He adds that the daily kilocalories traded today have more than doubled since 2000. Over the past 25 years, the daily per capita food trade has grown from 930 to 1,640 kcal. 

A recent study suggested that good access to regional markets is more important to achieving a balanced diet for small farmers in low- and middle-income countries than producing diverse produce on their farms.

Nearly 5,000 trillion kilocalories are traded daily for global nutrition security, which has reached a value of US$2.3 trillion.Trade tackling malnutrition

Nutrition trade is beneficial not only for economic gains but also to counter malnutrition, which harms immunity and bone and muscle health.

Haddad highlights the recent WTO Annual Agriculture Symposium on 9 December 2024, in which GAIN and other intergovernmental agencies revealed the link between trade and nutrition.

A UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) recent report emphasized the need to align trade policies with nutrition goals to enhance global diet quality while mitigating trade-driven dietary shifts contributing to obesity and malnutrition.

It found robust global trade growth of food and agricultural products, benefiting food and nutrient diversity, availability and affordability. Food and agricultural trade nearly quintupled, rising from US$400 billion in 2000 to US$1.9 trillion in 2022.

WHO’s unit head for Food and Nutrition Action in Health Systems in the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety recently told Nutrition Insight: “Many nutrition priorities, such as increased breastfeeding, avoidance of ultra-processed foods and reductions in red meat consumption, are also priorities for reducing the food industry’s carbon footprint and thus contribute to the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 13 on responsible consumption/production and climate action.”

Trade policy impacts on nutrition 

Haddad shares that the diversity of foods available for consumption via trade was almost 60% higher than the variety produced domestically in 2010. This rose to 90% by 2020.

Nutrition trade is beneficial not only for economic gains but also to counter malnutrition.He adds that trade decisions recently brought on skyrocketing prices for sunflower oil due to the Ukraine war, which is adding domestic pressure to Indonesia due to interruptions in palm oil exports. Downstream effects were felt in Bangladesh, an importing economy, with the suspension of the edible oil fortification program. 

According to Haddad and Paugam, the case shows how policy changes from one place have unintended consequences on nutritional deficiencies in other nations.

They cite a study in the journal Nature Food that found nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts globally reduced the mortality rate from non-communicable diseases by 1.4 million cases.

The two suggest aligning policies with health goals and eliminating high tariffs on healthy foods to encourage nutritious trade.

Success stories 

Haddad praises progress with GAIN’s successful advocacy for the reduction of import duties on vitamin and mineral mixes in Pakistan, which enables fortification programs to resume.

Nigeria also reduced its 20% tariff on maize, brown rice, wheat and cowpeas to 5% in 2024. 

Fiji had previously lowered tariffs on some imported fruits and vegetables from as high as 32% to 5% to encourage people to eat healthier. Samoa and Tonga also introduced taxes on fatty meats and sugary drinks.

Governments are authorized by the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement to guarantee imported food’s safety and combat misinformation by using nutrition and warning labels, among other tools. 

By accelerating supply chains, other agreements, like the Trade Facilitation Agreement, minimize food and nutrient losses by cutting red tape and speeding up customs procedures, adds Paugam.