The relationship between trade and sustainable development of agriculture in Central America

This summary document highlights the main aspects of a study characterising the evolution of the agricultural sector in Central America over recent years and exploring ways to remove the negative environmental consequences and to promote conservation.Characteristics of the Central American agricultural sector include: the products that have demonstrated the most dynamism were based on technology supplied from outside of the regionthose products which have benefited from subsidies, import tariffs, etc. (sugar cane, coffee and banana) had their technological supply from within the regionthe products, which have not gained in productivity and quality, depend on the efforts of the public sector for the generation of technology. There has been a marked reduction in the resources assigned to this areatechnological innovations have been made in all crops. However, in the majority of cases, these innovations are associated with the intensive use of fertilisers and agro-chemicalstechnologies and productive processes that permit positive environmental management exist, but are rarely applied in the productive activities of producersthe failure to comply with environmental laws is the common rule. In order to promote agriculture and sustainable development in Central America, the report suggest to strength agricultural support programs. With regards to current agricultural negotiations the report suggest further :to obtain special treatment for sustainable products and that are ethical and environmentally friendlyto obtain special contingents for clean products in the framework of contingent tariff systems, and the inclusion of clean products in the Generalised System of Preferencesto negotiate property resources of cooperation to support the sustainable development of the agricultural sector.