19 June 2012
Los Cabos, Mexico
Prime Minister Cameron, Prime Minister Gillard, my colleagues, Ministers Jim Flaherty and Ed Fast, ladies and gentlemen, mesdames et messieurs.
I'm pleased to announce the launch of the G20's AgResults program. This Canadian-led initiative brings together a public-private development partnership consisting of Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and also Italy, the United States, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
AgResults is designed to improve food security in the developing world by building on the commitments made at the Toronto G20 summit two years ago. AgResults will offer an incentive for the private sector to pursue new and innovative solutions to food security. Funds will only be spent once the programs have delivered results, such as larger crop yields or more nutritious food. Initiatives could include vitamin rich crops, new livestock vaccines, and innovative fertilizers among other things.
Promoting food security in the developing world is one of the highest aid priorities of the government of Canada. I'm therefore pleased that Canada's contribution is substantial, representing about 40 percent of the international funding announced here today. This initiative will help assist communities around the world to better access safe and nutritious foods.
Initial pilot projects will help people in sub-Saharan Africa produce more and better crops. This program builds on Canada's demonstrated leadership in financing innovative development initiatives internationally, and on behalf of Canada, I do want to thank all of my colleagues here today for their leadership as well, and for working together with the private sector to support this program and the approach, the important approach to development that it represents.
Thank you.
