Canada is contributing CAD 250,000 (USD 182,500) this year to help improve food safety and animal and plant health systems in developing and least-developed countries. The funding, announced this week by the World Trade Organization (WTO), will support new projects led by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).
The STDF brings together global partners to help countries meet international safety rules so they can trade more easily. Canada’s latest contribution will fund technical advice, training, and tools to improve how food, plants, and animals are handled along supply chains. The goal is to help farmers and exporters join world markets while protecting public health.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the move, saying it helps producers and regulators make trade safer and more inclusive. “Better standards don’t just boost exports—they also protect consumers and raise incomes in both exporting and importing countries,” she said.
Canada’s government has supported the STDF for years—not only through funding, but also by sharing knowledge from its own food safety system. In 2024 and 2025, Canadian experts held webinars and technical sessions with regulators from Africa and Central America. More learning exchanges are scheduled for later this year.
