Discussion paper on the feasibility of changes in trade relations and instruments

We place the question of change feasibility in the general context of food sustainability governance. Regrettably, our feasibility assessment must take account of SDG setbacks, the WTO and Climate Agreement sustainability gaps, structural debt crises, and the resulting challenges for regulators and operators. Our analysis also looks at various European Green Deal implementation problems and related WTO and AfCFTA issues. Through these narrowing transition pathways we present the MATS Case Study change proposals, classifying them along the four MATS-defined sustainability dimensions (1) Economy and Markets, (2) Social and Human, (3) Natural Capital, and (4) Policy, Governance and Regulation.

Our feasibility assessment of these proposals in the light of national and international rules and principles (including the EU Green Deal), standards, and other social and environmental factors shows the implementation challenges and opportunities along the entire agri-food value chain. Although the global policy inertia appears to make changes even more difficult for MATS countries and products, and without opining on quality, we find that some proposals could be more easily implemented than others where further impact studies would be necessary, considering different, sometimes conflicting, views and interests. Most sustainability improvement actions will have to include hitherto ‘outsiders’ and vulnerable actors like smallholders, SME, women entrepreneurs, and even nomads. Public engagement and social and environmental stakeholder inclusiveness will thus be crucial to achieve the proposed changes. Moreover, all proposals will require consultations with all concerned regulators, operators, and business and CSO representatives – regardless of whether these proposals are addressed to one or all involved persons.

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