Ottawa-Encouraging the adoption of sustainable agriculture around the world is one of the goals of the Global Forum on Farm Policy and Innovation (GFFPI).

It was created in 2020 by independent agricultural institutes from Australia, Canada, the EU and the U.S. to unlock new thinking and ideas about food production.

The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute is joined in this venture by the Australian Farm Institute, the U.S. Farm Foundation and the European Forum for the Future of Agriculture.

A CAPI paper said conversations among the GFFPI members have focused on how the Forum “can add the greatest value in strengthening collaboration, innovation, and policy coherence across global agrifood systems.”

In a period of profound disruption in the global food and agriculture system, the Forum seeks to identify and strengthen common ground for food producers.

“In the 10 years since the Paris Agreement placed climate change at the centre of global agricultural policy, the sector has had to grapple with a succession of shocks: a worldwide pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, escalating production costs, food price inflation, and growing trade tensions. Most recently, a deeper challenge has emerged, as confidence in evidence-based policymaking has begun to erode.”

As a result, the policy spotlight has shifted. “Food security worries now sit at the forefront of agricultural debates rather than climate change. The need for international collaboration is more important than ever.”

The recent turbulence in global trade discussions is undeniably extreme. To achieve progress in the current context requires people to see the world as it is, rather than how they would like it to be, and adopt a mindset that actively looks for the opportunities and the common ground wherever possible, the Forum said.

The Forum says “its firm belief in the roles of negotiation and collaboration to address wicked global economic, social, environmental and climatic challenges remains undiminished. Yet while remaining optimistic, we must address the global paradigm shift resulting from significant changes in the U.S.’s approach to agricultural trade, sustainability and innovation policy.”

The U.S. food and agriculture policy landscape has undergone a notable transformation in 2025 under the Trump administration. While the full implications are still unfolding, early actions suggest significant departures from recent policy norms—with the potential to permanently reshape the U.S. role in global food systems, sustainability approaches, and agricultural innovation.

“Simultaneously, U.S. disengagement from key global institutions such as —ranging from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—has added uncertainty to international trade norms and food security cooperation.”

U.S. Federal policy around sustainability has also been dramatically reframed. Federal support for climate, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs have been significantly reduced or eliminated. Other Federal investments in new climate-smart agriculture and have also been reduced.

“The U.S. experience in 2025 offers both a warning and an opportunity for global agrifood: it demonstrates how quickly established norms can change and how vital it is to maintain mechanisms for shared learning and mutual accountability. Across trade, sustainability, and innovation, continued engagement between governments, the private sector and research communities will be necessary to build a food and agriculture system that meets the needs of both people and the planet.”

Meanwhile forums like GFFPI provide essential space for exchange, reflection, and evidence-based collaboration to drive systems thinking for a vibrant future for the food and agriculture system.

The GFFPI has always centred on building spaces where evidence and dialogue take precedence over polarization. As global agriculture faces escalating pressures — from climate change to shifting trade rules and evolving societal expectations — this role becomes more critical.”

“The path to resilient, sustainable, and fair food systems lies not in going faster alone, but in going further together. By cultivating trust and focusing on outcomes that matter for people, the planet, and prosperity, the sector can sow enduring common ground for the decades ahead.”

This news report prepared for National Newswatch