Photograph. WTO.
Food Security and Global Trade
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting record demand for support amid declining official development assistance. The World Trade Organization (WTO) supports the fund's strategy to scale up sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) innovations globally.
El Standards Enforcement and Trade Promotion Fund (STDF) has published its 2025 Annual Report, marking the first year of implementation of its 2025-2030 Strategy. The document, supported by the Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC)It reveals a record increase in demand for projects to improve sanitary and phytosanitary (SSF) capacity in developing countries, at a crucial time for global food security.
The new strategy is based on the 20-year track record of STDF and outlines a roadmap to facilitate secure trade that contributes to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, and resilience to climate change. A key pillar of this new approach is the deepening of the public-private partnership, regional alliances and investment in innovation to scale high-impact MSF solutions.
Institutional support for an impact strategy
The report includes assessments from key figures in the international trade ecosystem. "The approach of STDF It stands out as a proven and effective model for practical and innovative MSF solutions. The investment in the work of STDF "It is more critical than ever to help strengthen MSF systems, thereby ensuring the availability of safe food," he stated. Marie-Luise Rau, Chair of the Working Group of STDF by 2025 and representative of Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity of Alemania.
For his part, the Deputy Director General of the OMC, Jean-Marie Paugam, he emphasized the organization's support: "The OMC supports the Strategy of STDF for 2025-2030 and encourages current and potential partners to support its efforts so that more people around the world can benefit from secure and inclusive trade."
From theory to practice: scalable MSF innovations
One of the central themes of the report is how MSF innovations, developed with the support of STDFThese approaches are being adopted and expanded globally. In 2025, the fund launched a new study to analyze ways to replicate and finance successful approaches.
A paradigmatic success story is the solution ePhyto of the International Plant Protection Convention, an electronic phytosanitary certificate system that was piloted through a project of the STDFBy the end of 2025, 96 countries were already exchanging these digital certificates, significantly reducing costs and improving efficiency for both the public and private sectors.
Another example of regional impact can be found in África, where the 16 member states of the Community of Development África Austral (SADC) They formally adopted harmonized guidelines for the registration of biopesticides, the result of a regional initiative also supported by the STDF.
| Metric | Notable figure |
|---|---|
| Countries that use the ePhyto solution | 96 (by the end of 2025) |
| Members of the SADC that adopted biopesticide guidelines | 16 |
| Support requests received in 2025 | 380 (record number) |
| Projects and grants funded since its inception | More than |
Growing demand in a complex environment
The report underlines that the demand for support from STDF reached a historic record in 2025 380 requests by actors from developing and least developed countries. This increase occurs against a backdrop of global decline in official development assistance, highlighting the catalytic role and necessity of such specialized funds.
The publication, launched in the context of World Food Safety Day 2025, aligns with the World Development Report 2025. Banco Mundialwhich recognizes the role of norms as a springboard for development, growth, and poverty reduction. STDF It is a global association established by the Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO), Group of Banco Mundial, the Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), the Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (OMSA) and OMC, contributing directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Naciones Unidas.
Key points and frequently asked questions about MSF and STDF standards
How does this initiative affect Spanish exporters?
Strengthening MSF's capabilities in developing and least developed countries creates a more predictable and secure trading environment. For Spanish companies that import raw materials or export products, this translates into more reliable supply chains, a reduction in customs rejections for health reasons and access to markets with more homogeneous and transparent quality standards.
What are the main innovations promoted by the STDF?
El STDF It focuses on scaling technological and management solutions. The most prominent is the digitization of phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto)This drastically streamlines bureaucratic procedures and reduces the risk of fraud. Other innovations include the harmonization of regional regulations, such as guidelines for biopesticides, which facilitate intra-regional trade and open new markets for sustainable agricultural solutions.
What role does the private sector play in these types of projects?
The private sector is a key player in the strategy of STDFCompanies are not only beneficiaries but also active partners in the design and implementation of projects. Public-private collaboration is essential to ensure that MSF solutions are practical, commercially viable, and responsive to real market needs, thus guaranteeing their long-term sustainability.
Any questions about this news?
Talk to Coexia, the AI of the foreign trade
