By Faridat Salifu
The World Trade Organization has called for stronger alignment between trade policy, water management and food security as global water stress intensifies.
Speaking at the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference during the 18th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture on January 17, WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam said water security remains the foundation of global food security.
Paugam warned that global water demand could exceed available supply by up to 40 per cent by 2030 if current water-use practices persist.
He told agriculture ministers that international trade plays a critical role in managing rising water stress, particularly as more than half of global food production occurs in water-stressed regions.
The WTO official explained that trade in so-called “virtual water,” embedded in agricultural products, allows water-abundant regions to supply water-intensive food to water-scarce countries, supporting global food availability.
Paugam cautioned that trade distortions and harmful agricultural subsidies continue to undermine efficient water use worldwide.
He said reforming such subsidies through WTO agriculture negotiations is not only a trade priority but a global governance necessity.
Looking ahead to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled for March 26 to 29 in Cameroon, Paugam urged members to advance reforms that align agricultural support with long-term food security and responsible resource management.
He pointed to recent multilateral progress, including the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the elimination of agricultural export subsidies, as evidence that coordinated action is possible.
Paugam concluded by calling on ministers of agriculture and trade to work more closely together to shape resilient and sustainable global food systems.
