Minister’s Message: World Food Day

October 16

On World Food Day, we must recognize the fundamental need for nutritious basic foods by all people around the world. In recent years, rising food prices, the global economic recession and the impact of climate change have all led to increased poverty and instability in a number of developing countries. As a result, more than one billion people around the world do not have enough to eat.

Food Security is a priority for our Government. Through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and its international assistance efforts, Canada will continue to support meeting the need for humanitarian food aid, improving productivity in the agricultural sector and furthering research and development in nutrition and agriculture.

Our commitment to food security recognizes that hunger and poor health, particularly among women and children, calls for real action to achieve our other development goals. Our overall investment last year, including food assistance, was increased by nearly 40 per cent over the previous year. In July, Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada will more than double its investment in agricultural development. This will provide access to the inputs, tools, and learning needed for farmers in developing countries to feed their families and harvest enough produce to earn an income. Through other initiatives led by CIDA, we have also helped to increase the incomes of farm families, especially those led by women, with access to micro-credit, increased crop diversity, and market access.

The Government of Canada is proving to be a global leader in increasing food security. Canada is the third largest single country donor to the World Food Program and currently serves as Vice-chair at the World Food Convention. In 2008, our Government fully untied its food aid. This means needed food can be purchased at lower prices, more locally, while saving on transportation costs and also building local marketplace capacity.

Today, on World Food Day, Canadians can be proud to say they have a government that is dedicated to increasing global food security.



The Honourable Beverley J. Oda
Minister of International Cooperation