Australian negotiators hope up to $US16 billion ($16.54 billion) in farm subsidies could be abolished and agricultural tariffs reduced by about 75pc if a way forward is found in the Doha round of free trade talks, as part of the ongoing World Trade Organsation talks.

But after seven years of negotiations, a protectionist uprising from countries concerned about their food security may again threaten the negotiations.

About 30 countries have already imposed limits on food exports, with the world's two most populous nations, China and India, imposing limits on rice exports.

However, Australian negotiators are confident that more countries will see the benefit of reducing barriers to food trade.

The Trade Minister, Simon Crean, who will attend the talks, said that completing the Doha multilateral agreement would be a "key part of the solution to the current world food crisis".

"Some have suggested that subsidising and protecting local production is the answer.

"The reality, though, is that attempts at self-sufficiency and a retreat into protectionism would only make things worse," he says.

High levels of government subsidies and protection bestowed on farmers in the United States and Japan have been blamed for making it harder for developing countries to nurture their own food industries.

A research analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Ross Allen, said it would help Australia - and stimulate farming in Africa and Asia - if tariffs and subsidies in the developed world were reduced.

Next week's talks will focus on agreeing to reductions in tariffs and subsidies in the agricultural and industry sectors.

Amid growing global concern over climate change, future rounds of talks are also expected to consider special trade access arrangements for goods that are environmentally friendly.

Increased tariffs on goods which are carbon intensive are understood not to be on the table.

With the looming election in the US, significant progress must be made at this meeting, or it could take years before a final agreement is brokered.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has resisted calls for Australia to boost its intake of humanitarian refugees displaced by global warming.

The Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, said Australia would not be adding to its refugee intake of 13,500 places for 2008-09.