The 97th Session of the International Labour Conference (June 2008) adopted a resolution concerning the role of the ILO and its constituents in tackling the food crisis. The resolution called upon the Office to convene a tripartite technical workshop on the global food crisis and its impact on decent work. The purpose of the workshop would be to take account of the work of the High-level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis; to share with other UN agencies the expertise of the ILO tripartite partners on rural employment and poverty reduction; and to contribute to an informed discussion within the United Nations on the social and employment impact of food prices on decent work.

At its 303rd Session (November 2008), the ILO Governing Body authorized the holding of the two-day tripartite technical workshop in the first quarter of 2009. This meeting was held as part of the ILO's response to the global economic crisis.