Officials from six international organizations are rolling up their sleeves and getting to work on a low-profile -- but nevertheless significant -- mission that could affect the course of future farm trade liberalization negotiations.
The mission, mandated by the Geneva-based World Trade Organization's ministers in Doha, Qatar, in early November, is to compile a report by the end of June on a proposed fund to help net food importers in the developing world in the event of a steep global surge in food prices.
The five other international organizations participating in the study are the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Grains Council.