International Grains Council

Abstract

The International Grains Council (IGC) is an intergovernmental organization whose aim is to oversee the implementation of the 1995 Grains Trade Agreement (GTA). The IGC includes all parties to the Grains Trade Convention-to date, 25 states and the European Community. The central structure of IGC is the meeting of the entire Membership, which takes place twice a year. Decisions in the Council are normally taken by consensus, although formal voting procedures are provided under the Council's Rules of Procedure. The contribution for each fiscal year is established in accordance with the number of votes held by each member. The ICG oversees the International Grains Agreement, which covers both the GTA and the Food Aid Convention (FAC). As a central player in both global grain markets and the food aid machinery, IGC faces important challenges in a world facing food scarcity. Keywords: Food Aid Convention (FAC); global grain markets; Grains Trade Agreement (GTA); International Grains Council (IGC)