Argentina facing the global debate on food security: at the table or on the menu?

The mess of the economy that first caused the pandemic then the war in ukraine had major consequences for the food industry: a historic rise in prices, which was followed by a repositioning of the discussion on global food security.

In various international forums (G-7, BRICS, CELAC, UN) as well as in various bilateral meetings, the President Alberto Fernandez tried to present Argentina as a solution to the current food crisis. For his part, in September of last year, the President presented to the world summit on food securitywhere the Argentine delegation had a remarkable participation.

An active role for the country in the global debate on food security today rests on solid evidence. To its traditional and important sector agri-food Two key competitive advantages are added to this. The first is geographic. The country is far geopolitical risks that haunt the world today. The second is technological. THE biotechnological developments companies and start-ups – seeking to provide solutions to problems such as climate change – in the agricultural sector are multiplying. The case of the export of HB4 seeds is a clear example of a beginning ecosystem biotech.

The country’s involvement in international food governance is not only important for the country’s visibility and influence on the international scene. It’s not just a question of prestige. Within these areas, principles, standards and practices are discussed that can improve the competitiveness of food producers, in areas such as digital farming and energy conversion associated with climate regime commitments. Policy guidelines that different countries can apply in food production and marketing derive from these forums. Similarly, part of the terms of reference for funding from multilateral organizations to the agri-food sector are structured on the bases issued by the regime.

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However, to position the country with a leading role in this crucial aspect of international governance it is necessary to have a coherent and solid international integration strategy.

Although Argentina have maintained a narrative where they position themselves as an active collaborator in the face of this issue, they have also had notable absences. In 2021, it was the only country in the region not to support the joint statement on bans or restrictions on the export of agricultural products in relation to the world food programin the WTO.

He Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) which was held in Berlin at the end of January, there were no representatives of our country, a striking and disturbing absence. 64 countries participated in this Forum (including Ministers of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Cuba) and representatives of the United Nations for Food and Agriculture (FAO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank (WB) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

National institutions play a key role in international projection. Foreign policy is “inter-mestic” (international and domestic). However, in the latest reorganizations of the state bureaucracy, the priority of the food security agenda in the international projection did not have the necessary relevance.

In a global context where the agenda is at the center of discussions, Argentina has reduced the portfolio of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing to a secretariat within Ministry of Economy, which focuses entirely on resolving the difficult financial situation. Foreign policy today is multi-party and multi-agency where all bureaucracies must make the most of the opportunities for internationalization that exist. Likewise, the coordination of the Economy with the Chancellery and the Secretariat for Strategic Affairs is essential to be able to articulate a global strategy at the regional and international levels where food issues are discussed, in accordance with the centrality that the President has given to this agenda.

For a successful international projection, an orderly macroeconomics is also necessary to avoid contradictions with the diplomatic lexicon. Argentina stressed that the problem of global food security cannot be seen as a problem of food supply, but as a problem of marketing systems, concentration and market restrictions, highlighting the distorting policies applied by many many developed countries. However, the persistence of irregularities in the foreign exchange system which particularly affect the agricultural sector and the many export restrictions (withholdings) do little to help this position. In short, all foreign policy begins at home. On February 8 this year, the IMF, WB, FAO, WTO and the World Food Program issued a joint statement on the global food security crisis in which they clarified the export restrictions imposed by the Argentina – and other countries – in recent months.

There drought which crosses the central zone of Argentina leads to downward estimates for the next cycles. There Rosario Stock Exchange calculates a reduction in exports of the main agricultural complexes of 13% compared to 2022, an estimate cushioned by the still high prices of agricultural raw materials. The FAO’s global projections, released in early March, meanwhile estimate that world grain trade in 2022/23 will decline by 1.8% from the 2021/22 level.

Whether out of pragmatism -increasing Argentina’s insertion in the markets- or out of principle -contributing to avoiding hunger in the world- it is imperative that our country maintains with institutional coherence and macroeconomic consistency a foreign policy for the sector agribusiness in the context of globalization discussions on food security. The dilemma is clear: either we have a full and solid international presence to discuss and influence the agenda with a horizon of growing in power at the multilateral level (seated at the “table”) or other actors will define the game, the principles and rules around food safety (and Argentina will be part of the “menu”)

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