Canada and Food Security - Results that make a difference

Delivering on G8 commitments

Canada has a strong record of helping increase global food security. At the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Canada committed $600 million, for a total pledge of $1.18 billion over three years for sustainable agricultural development. Canada has acted quickly in response to global need and has already disbursed over $800 million of this total:

• $260 million for the World Bank Vulnerability Financing Facility to support medium- and long-term developing country-led plans for sustainable agricultural development and short-term actions that reduce the negative impact of high and volatile food prices and support governments in the design of sustainable food and market price policies
• $240 million for bilateral sustainable agricultural development programming to increase agricultural programming in African countries of focus, namely Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, and Sudan
• $37.5 million in additional funding for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to help small-scale famers, especially women, improve their business practices, rehabilitate their farmlands, and develop their markets
• $32.5 million for two challenge programs of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), one aimed at overcoming threats posed by a changing climate, the other, at breeding crops for better nutrition foods
• $30 million for the Purchase for Progress initiative of the World Food Programme to provide local markets for low-cost food grown by farmers in Ghana and Afghanistan

This is in addition to Canada's support for other critical food security related initiatives such as nutrition and food aid.

Canada's efforts

Since April of 2008, 100 percent of Canada's food aid has been untied. This has substantially increased the efficiency and effectiveness of Canada's aid by reducing delivery costs and building local infrastructure and local capacity.

Increasing food security is one of Canada's five priority themes for international assistance. The challenges to food security are well known and include population growth and high food prices, transportation, and agricultural costs.

Results that make a difference

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)'s food security strategy  and its paths for action on food aid and nutrition; sustainable agricultural development; and research and development respond to the food security needs in developing countries. For instance:

• Canada is a lead contributor to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program―a major multilateral mechanism designed to support regional and country-owned food security plans―providing $230 million 2010.
• Supported by CIDA, the Micronutrient Initiative works with UNICEF and other partners to help ensure that children receive lifesaving vitamin A supplements every six months. Canada is now responsible for funding at least 75 percent of all the vitamin A supplements distributed to children in developing countries.
• In 2009, Canada was the second largest donor to the United Nations World Food Programme. In September 2009, Canada was among the first countries to respond to a worldwide appeal and provide $30 million for food aid to drought victims in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda. Canada continues to respond to food-related emergencies.
• In Senegal, Canada supports small-scale rice farmers to increase production and improve access to markets.
• In Ghana, Canada supports the national agriculture and food security plan that addresses poverty reduction and helps farmers in 12,500 rural communities.
• In Mali and across the West African region, Canada supports water basin and water management, including irrigation, improvements.

For information on specific projects, search CIDA's Project Browser.