The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a major branch of the United Nations, Thursday appealed for freer world trade, especially of agricultural products.

"Agricultural growth and greater trade prospects have the potential to contribute significantly to improving food security and promoting wider economic growth in poor countries," FAO Assistant Director-General Hartwig de Haen said in a statement to the ongoing ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization.

During the week-long meeting of the international trade regime's top decision-making body, major developed countries and developing countries were quarreling over agricultural subsidies and market access.

"Freer global agricultural trade regime could lead to increased prices for agricultural commodities that are presently highly protected, including basic foodstuffs," the statement quoted Haen as saying, indicating that will benefit developing countries.

However, the UN agency called for "safety nets" to protect "vulnerable groups" from trade related shocks and to "allow the poor to take advantage of the economic opportunities".

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2005)