March 02, 2026
Rome, Italy | FAO Headquarters | 15:00 CET
Standards for Development: Implications for Agrifood Systems
Join us for the launch in Rome of the World Bank World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development, organized by the Institute for Economic Development in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
This high‑level session will unpack how standards—often invisible but increasingly essential—shape agrifood trade, safety, competitiveness, and inclusive growth. Hear key findings from the WDR 2025, insights from global standard‑setting bodies, and perspectives on what it takes for countries to build the “hidden infrastructure” needed to thrive in today’s complex agrifood landscape.
Register to attend in person or tune in online to be part of the conversation shaping the future of agrifood systems. The event will be available in English and French.
Standards make everyday life run smoothly—often invisibly. When they work, they build trust and allow people and firms to trade, innovate, and grow; when they fail, disruptions are immediate and costly. Standards are the hidden foundations of prosperity: nearly 90 percent of world trade is now shaped by nontariff measures - most linked to standards - many of which directly affect agrifood products. This makes the ability of food producers to adapt, align, and participate in international standard‑setting essential for maintaining market access and competitiveness. Standards are a form of hidden infrastructure, and their importance is rising as countries navigate increasingly complex requirements linked to globalization, technology, and growing expectations around safety, sustainability, and transparency.
The World Bank World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development offers a comprehensive assessment of today’s global standards landscape and a practical framework for how countries can adapt, align with, and shape standards to accelerate economic development.
Standards are particularly critical for agrifood systems—including agriculture, food processing and distribution, forestry, and natural-fiber textiles—where a large share of global trade is shaped by non-tariff measures linked to standards. For many low- and middle-income countries, the challenge lies not only in adopting standards but in building laboratories, inspection services, certification bodies, and traceability systems that allow standards to enable rather than constrain inclusive growth.
Related Content
