IN THIS ISSUE of Focus o­n Trade we look at the G20, the developing country coalition that threw a sizeable spanner in the works during last year's WTO ministerial. Although their role as a potential counterpower to the US and the EU is welcome, their negotiating position in the WTO is riddled with contradictions. How does the G20 propose to reconcile market access and agricultural liberalisation in the framework of the WTO with their stated intention to protect small producers and peasants? Whose interests are they really defending? Can export agriculture bring employment and prosperity to the rural poor? Is it possible to simultaneously maximise the benefits from exports and protect local producers?

These questions are tackled from a number of angles. In the lead story, Chanida Chanyapate and Isabelle Delforge explore the agro-politics of Thailand's o­ngoing chicken-flu crisis and the “downside” of export agriculture. Next, Aileen Kwa reports o­n the state of agriculture negotiations in Geneva and concludes with the dismal perspective that – as far as the US and the EU are concerned – it's business as usual. Nicola Bullard speculates about where the G20 is heading and how progressive movements should respond, while Clodoaldo Hugueney from the Brazilian ministry of foreign affairs describes the G20's origins and agenda. Devinder Sharma describes the “hunger amidst plenty” in o­ne of the leading G20 countries – India – and urges his government to give hunger the same political energy they spend creating the illusion of “India Shining.” Last is a recent interview with Joao Pedro Stedile, a leader of Brazil's landless movement, in which he insists that Lula's government (the de facto leader of the G20) is backing the wrong set of policies. The Stedile interview finishes with a wonderful quote, for gardeners and activists alike: “This is not the time for planting lettuce; it's time to plant trees. o­ne of these days they will begin to bear fruit.”THE POLITICS OF BIRD FLU IN THAILANDChanida Chanyapate and Isabelle Delforge

AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS: MORE TROUBLE AHEAD FOR THE THIRD WORLDAileen Kwa

THE G20: THEIR POWER IS NOT OURSNicola Bullard

THE G20: PASSING PHENOMENON OR HERE TO STAY? Clodoaldo Hugueney Filho

“IF LULA DOES NOT CARRY OUT AGRARIAN REFORM, IT WOULD BE DEMORALIZING”An interview with Joao Pedro Stedile by Roldao Arruda

HUNGER IS A REFLECTION OF OUR MISPLACED EMPHASIS o­n GROWTH FOR A SELECT FEW Devinder Sharma