At the International Grains Conference in London, global grain trade leaders called for stronger regulatory alignment, accelerated digitalization, and deeper public-private cooperation to ensure food security and grain supply chain resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world.

In a world increasingly marked by geopolitical disruption, policy fragmentation, and technological acceleration, leaders of the global grain trade gathered for a high-level panel titled “A Fireside Chat with IGTC Leaders: Enabling Efficient Trade in a Complex Global Environment.” The session, held during the first day of the International Grains Conference in London, focused on how to maintain efficient and resilient grain flows in the face of escalating challenges.

Chaired by Erin Gowriluk, President of the Canada Grains Council, the panel brought together top representatives from international trade and policy institutions:

Pat O’Shannassy, President, International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC)

Alejandra Castillo, President & CEO, North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA)

Rosalind R. Leeck, Managing Director, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC)

Edwini Kessie, Director, Agriculture and Commodities Division, World Trade Organization (WTO)

Opening the discussion, Pat O’Shannassy emphasized that while competition drives efficiency, it is cooperation and rules-based systems that ensure food security.“Managing risk is not just about logistics, it’s about economics. At the end of the chain, it’s the farmer or the consumer who pays for uncertainty,” he said. “Rules-based trade gives us predictability and allows the market to function fairly.”

WTO’s Edwini Kessie reiterated the organization's commitment to making trade a reliable vehicle for food security. He highlighted WTO efforts to reduce export restrictions and advance sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) transparency. “Most of our members are net food-importing countries. Food security will be at the heart of the WTO’s next Ministerial Conference in 2026,” Kessie announced. He also underscored the role of multilateral standards: “Trade must be based on science, proportionality, and risk. The SPS and TBT agreements were built precisely to ensure that food can move freely without compromising safety.”

DIGITAL TOOLS: THE CASE OF E-PHYTO

Alejandra Castillo pointed to the e-Phyto system as a model of public-private innovation in action. With more than 130 countries participating, the system has replaced millions of paper-based phytosanitary certificates with secure electronic versions. “The grain trade is still overly dependent on physical paperwork. But tools like e-Phyto proved their value during the pandemic. We now need banking systems and trade finance to catch up.”

REGULATORY FRAGMENTATION STILL A MAJOR OBSTACLE

USSEC’s Rosalind R. Leeck provided a candid look into the burdens exporters face. “We ship soybeans to over 100 countries, navigating 75 to 90 regulatory environments. That patchwork makes trade inefficient and unequal,” she said. Leeck also called for greater public-private consultation in regulatory development: “We need fit-for-purpose regulations that evolve alongside innovation. Science-based doesn’t mean identical criteria but it does mean transparency and proportionality.”

INNOVATION IS OUTPACING REGULATION

The panel warned that emerging technologies—ranging from AI in grain grading to blockchain in logistics—are outpacing existing regulatory frameworks. “Technology is moving faster than policy,” said Pat O’Shannassy. “Our job is to make sure that innovation improves trade, not complicates it.” Castillo added that digital integration across the supply chain—from inland elevators to container terminals—is no longer optional: “We need automation not just where it’s easiest, but where it has the greatest impact.”

In their concluding remarks, panelists agreed that reinforcing multilateral institutions like the WTO, Codex, and IPPC is critical. “We don’t need perfect systems—we need adaptive ones,” said Castillo. “And we need public-private collaboration more than ever.” “We must build the regulatory and digital infrastructure to support the grain trade,” added Kessie.