WASHINGTON, D.C. - CropLife America (CLA) supports the Ministerial Sanitary and Phytosanitary Declaration approved at the Twelfth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Geneva, highlighting WTO’s importance in facilitating international trade, ensuring market access for farmers, while allowing growers to choose the innovative agricultural tools they need to produce a safe and sustainable food supply.

The Declaration, which was signed by more than 40 delegations, calls to enhance the implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) to better respond to modern challenges and support sound, science-based implementation of SPS measures. While the existing agreement worked for the agriculture community when it was originally established, there have been great strides in the area of agricultural innovation and modernizing this agreement facilitates greater access to innovations for farmers around the globe to keep pace with today’s challenges in agriculture production.

“Earlier this month, CLA joined more than 20 other organizations representing farmers, ranchers, food producers and exporters from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America to stress the pressing need for a breakthrough in WTO agriculture trade talks,” said Chris Novak, CLA president and CEO. “It is encouraging to see the WTO make a declaration that is a significant first step toward reinforcing international support for transparent, science-based trade in agriculture,” Novak continued.

Trade plays a central role in addressing food insecurity, including improving availability and access to food, helping to meet demand for more diverse and nutritious food, and improving the predictability and stability of global food markets for producers and consumers. With the continued challenges faced by the food system due to geo-political impacts, climate change and supply-chain issues, this is a positive step toward helping to ensure that agricultural trade is supported.