9 July 2009
L'Aquila, Italy
Leaders of the G-8 at the 2009 L’Aquila Summit pledged to substantially increase aid to promote food security, including measures taken through multiyear resource commitments. They established a goal of mobilizing at least USD $15 billion (CAD $17.4 billion) over three years through a coordinated, comprehensive strategy focused on sustainable agriculture development, while continuing a strong commitment to ensure adequate emergency food aid assistance.
At the Summit, the Prime Minister announced Canada’s investment in food security assistance is more than doubling. Funding is being increased by $600 million over 3 years, reaching $1.18 billion in overall funding for food security. Canada’s new food security strategy focuses on meeting today’s challenges, while ensuring long-term food security for poor and vulnerable people. Spurring agricultural productivity as an engine of sustainable economic growth will have real results in developing countries.
Today’s announcement builds upon Canada's track record of leadership in food security.
On May 20, 2009, Canada announced that increasing food security will be one of Canada’s five priorities for international assistance.
In April 2008, the Government of Canada fully untied its food aid budget, which particularly benefits developing countries. Untying food aid helps promote the development of local and regional markets, and helps to ensure the food assistance needs of vulnerable populations are met in a more timely manner. Untying also helps to ensure that culturally appropriate commodities are provided to beneficiaries. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, untying food aid dollars increases its impact by as much as 30% because it allows for activities such as local procurement and cutting transportation costs.
At the 2002 United Nations Monterrey Consensus meeting, Canada committed to double its international assistance spending to $5 billion by fiscal year 2010 2011 from $2.5 billion in 2001 2002. Budget 2008 ensures the funding is in place to meet this commitment.
At the 2005 G-8 Summit, leaders pledged to increase their aid to Africa. Canada committed to double assistance to Africa from $1.05 billion in 2003-2004 to $2.1 billion by fiscal year 2008-2009, and met that commitment.
