The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade deals undermine climate goals, putting our planet and food systems at risk, a new report warns. In “The Climate Cost of Free Trade”, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) presents many examples of how trade rules already conflict with climate goals and shows how the TPP deal between the United States and 11 other Pacific rim nations, signed in February 2016, could create further barriers for nations trying to meet their Paris climate pledges. National commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are at the heart of the Paris agreement, the authors write, and almost 80% of countries’ national climate plans include actions on agriculture. Agriculture plays a key role for achieving the climate goals since the global food system, including agricultural production and land use, is responsible for one-third of global emissions. However, TTP could become a major obstacle for countries that want to reduce agricultural emissions and make farming systems more resilient, the report warns. “Most of agriculture’s global emissions are associated with the growth of an industrial model of agriculture designed to compete in global markets and take advantage of international trade rules put in place over the last several decades. Not surprisingly, global agribusiness companies sit prominently on US trade advisory committees and companies like Cargill and Monsanto are flexing their lobbying muscles in support of new trade deals.” According to the report, the trans-pacific deal aims at harmonizing food safety rules between countries, including rules on pesticide and veterinary drug residues, demanding they be “least trade restrictive,” rather than prioritizing public health and sustainable agricultural production, says IATP. The organisation also fears that TTP, that will cover some 40% of the world economy, will be a door-opener for genetically modified crops (GMOs). The deal sets forward rules to expand the use and acceptance of GMOs. These crops are mainly commodity crops that can be stored and sold on the global market, such as corn, soybeans and cotton. They are heavily dependent on synthetic fertilizers (a major greenhouse gas contributor) and are largely used as animal feed for the meat and dairy industry which are also major emitters. The authors consider this the wrong track: “Numerous international reports, from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, to the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, Technology for Development (IAASTD) to the most recent International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, have pointed to the imperative of greater biodiversity in agricultural systems to adapt to climate change. Less diversity and more homogeneity results in agricultural systems vulnerable to extreme weather, new pests and weeds, all of which are expected outcomes of climate change.” In addition, IATP criticises that the TPP deal requires all participating countries to sign on to UPOV91, a global seed breeders’ rights treaty which prohibits farmers and breeders from exchanging protected seeds, hindering climate adaptation efforts. The report demands that trade deals should no longer be considered in isolation, or given priority over other agreements or global goals: “Trade policy is too influential, and provides too many obstacles for successful governing on issues like climate change, health, food security and natural resource management - issues that the WTO and other free trade agreements are ill-equipped to handle,” the authors conclude. (ab)