Geneva Events

Geneva Events

Last week, the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) and NAEGA completed several successful activities  in Geneva, Switzerland. Included:

  • November 7 and 11: IGTC President Gary Martin met with Industry leaders, IGTC corporate stakeholders and government officials to discuss IGTC Policy files and the IGTC’s new business plan as well as NAEGA operations. Katy Lee and Gary met with prospective IGTC legal council.
  • November 8: An IGTC Strategy Session and General Assembly were completed. The Strategy Session included comprehensive review and revision of all IGTC files and the related action communication plans, policy and advocacy strategies. A new IGTC file was opened to address pesticide residue management.  Initial consideration for IGTC engagement with the International Maritime Organization was tabled.  The General Assembly focused on IGTC business operations, including officer elections and naming the management council as well as approval of revised business plan incorporating changes submitted by NAEGA. that was largely adopted. Gary Martin (President), Teresa Babuscio (VP) and Randy Gordon (Treasurer) were elected to two year terms.
  • On November 10, the IGTC welcomed an audience of governments and international decision makers to a seminar entitled "The Grain Trade’s Contribution to Global Food Security and Economic Development” at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The event was attended by WTO Agriculture and SPS Committee members, and chaired by Canada and Brazil. The IGTC’s speakers included Grain Trade Australia, COCERAL, IGTC/NAEGA and Cargill. IGTC’s presenters focused on phytosanitary risk management, the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, plant production methods, and e-documentation. The aim of the session was to highlight the importance of the grain trade in securing safe, affordable, reliable and fungible food supply while as contributing to food security. A copy of the IGTC presentations can be found on the IGTC “Intranet” at igtcglobal.org.
  • On November 11 several IGTC participants including Gary and Katy attended a Cairns Group Farm Leaders Seminar for which the Agenda and Background can be found here and here. Gary and Katy also met with Tim Yeend, the Chef de Cabinet for WTO Director General Azevedo regarding how to best achieve the common interests and objectives of IGTC and the WTO

 

The new IGTC business plan, which extends until 2020, highlights governance, financial and membership goals for the organization. Most importantly, the business plan includes:

  • Commitment of NAEGA underwriting until at least 2018;
  • Transitioning from NAEGA underwriting and administration sometime after 2018;
  • Approval of membership fees and corporate stakeholder investments beginning in 2016, with the goal of building up US$200,000 of IGTC reserves;
  • Changes to the qualifications for serving on the Management Council and Corporate Stakeholder Advisory Board;
  • Creation and job description of a permanent IGTC Secretariat to be provided by NAEGA for 2017 and 2018;
  • An approved budget for 2016 through 2018 incorporating revised and additional sources of income, including membership fees and corporate stakeholder investments;
  • A prospective budget for 2019 and 2020;
  • A more complete description and accounting of IGTC benefits included in a new section entitled the “IGTC value proposition”.

 

A copy of the IGTC new business plan can be found here: IGTC Business Plan.

 

Reports on all the meetings will soon be made available.

 

For more information or to comment please contact Gary or the Katy Lee, Acting IGTC Secretariat at secretariat@igtcglobal.org.