Main topics of the OECD Agriculture Directorate
The OECD is basically an economic organisation. Thus, it also considers agriculture primarily from an economic point of view. And yet it is impossible to have a full understanding of agriculture solely from an economic and trade-oriented perspective. The structure and context of the OECD Agriculture Directorate accord due consideration to this fact.
In the past few years, the issues tackled by the OECD Agriculture Directorate have been broadened continually, first in cooperation with non-member countries (especially the countries of Eastern Europe, South America and China), environmental issues (also in the common working group for agriculture and the environment), multifunctionality of agriculture (services provided by agriculture apart from mere production), and the structural transformation of agriculture.The topics are also reflected in the structure of the committees:
Agriculture Committee:
This higher-ranking committee defines the general policy orientation of the work.
Working group for Agricultural Markets and Policy: analyses the effects of policy on trade and the structure of the economic branches; publishes the annual OECD Monitoring Report.
Working group for Agriculture and the Environment: analyses the negative and positive environmental impact of agriculture; creates a set of environmental indicators in agriculture, identifies "best practices"; numerous workshops on special topics.
Product groups for meat and milk products, fruit and vegetables, sugar, feed and starch, as well as farming machines: investigate market developments; sometimes work out product standards.
Global Forum: analyses and discusses global developments in the field of agriculture; highly future-oriented.
Non-member states: creates country studies, workshops on the situation of agricultural policy in the respective countries.
Fisheries Committee: observes and analyses international changes in fisheries policies; the focus is on sustainability.
Biological resource management: research issues; provides grants for young researchers; gives financial and content-related support to meetings
15.12.2005, Lebensministerium III/3