At MC14, the industry body calls for science-based trade, stronger IP protections, and innovation-led pathways to food security

At a pivotal moment for global agriculture and food systems, CropLife International has called on members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reinforce a rules-based trading system, strengthen intellectual property protections, and accelerate innovation at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14).

The organisation underscored that the WTO-led multilateral trading system remains a cornerstone of global food security. Since the establishment of the WTO in 1995, global agricultural exports have more than tripled, reflecting the importance of predictable, transparent, and science-based trade frameworks in improving food availability and supporting farmer livelihoods worldwide. For developing countries in particular, such systems provide critical stability and access to international markets.

As the global voice of the plant science industry, CropLife International highlighted the growing urgency of enabling farmers to sustainably increase productivity amid climate change, environmental pressures, and supply chain disruptions. The group emphasised that innovation—from crop protection solutions to advanced breeding technologies—depends on a stable regulatory and trade environment grounded in international cooperation and standards.

Speaking ahead of MC14, Emily Rees, President and CEO of CropLife International said: “The multilateral, rules-based, trading system plays a critical role in advancing global food security. This upcoming MC14 provides an opportunity to reaffirm the core principles on which the WTO was built. Our recommendations lay the path for the action needed to protect agricultural productivity and food security. With science and rules-based trade, strong and predictable IP frameworks and outcome driven sustainable development, Ministers can support the agricultural sector to build its capacities, accelerate innovation and encourage development that delivers value for those in the field.”

Positioning MC14 as a key opportunity, CropLife International called on WTO members to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism and deliver practical outcomes that strengthen the global agricultural trading system. The organisation stressed that safeguarding farmers’ access to markets through predictable rules is essential to building a resilient, inclusive, and food-secure future.

Central to its recommendations is the need to uphold science-based approaches to trade, particularly under the WTO’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. CropLife urged members to ensure that regulatory decisions—especially those concerning pesticide maximum residue levels—are grounded in risk assessment and aligned with internationally recognised standards set by bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the International Plant Protection Convention, and the World Organisation for Animal Health. Strengthening these institutions through adequate funding and capacity-building initiatives, including the Standards and Trade Development Facility, was identified as critical to ensuring inclusive and predictable trade.

The organisation also placed strong emphasis on resolving ongoing sanitary and phytosanitary trade concerns through WTO mechanisms and improving transparency in regulatory processes. It warned that inconsistent or non-science-based measures risk disrupting global supply chains and undermining food security objectives.

Another major pillar of CropLife’s position is the protection of intellectual property rights under the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement. The group called for reaffirming TRIPS as a balanced and effective framework that incentivises research, development, and the deployment of agricultural technologies. It stressed that robust IP protections—including patents, plant variety rights, and regulatory data protection—are essential to driving innovation and ensuring that new solutions reach farmers across regions.

CropLife International cautioned against the erosion of IP standards, noting that weakening protections could reduce incentives for investment in agricultural research and limit the availability of new technologies. At the same time, it highlighted the importance of voluntary licensing mechanisms as a means of facilitating technology transfer and value creation while maintaining the balance between innovation and access.

Sustainability and food security formed the third core area of focus in CropLife’s recommendations. The organisation urged WTO members to adopt outcome-based, science-driven approaches that integrate economic, social, and environmental objectives without creating unnecessary barriers to trade. It argued that sustainability policies must remain flexible and adaptable to regional conditions, rather than imposing uniform or prescriptive requirements that may not align with local realities.

CropLife also raised concerns about the extraterritorial application of sustainability measures, advocating instead for policy frameworks that respect national contexts while working toward shared global goals. It emphasised that agricultural innovation should be recognised as a key enabler of sustainable productivity and climate resilience, and that trade and regulatory systems must support the development and adoption of such innovations.

In conclusion, CropLife International reiterated its commitment to engaging constructively with WTO members and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes at MC14. The organisation called for coordinated action to strengthen the rules-based trading system, promote innovation, and ensure that farmers worldwide have access to the tools, technologies, and markets needed to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving global food system.