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Food Security

Food security is: when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Although food security has for many years been an issue in specific developing countries, it has recently become a major global concern. Accelerating climate change, the looming water crisis, and the burgeoning demand for livestock feed and biofuels are creating new uncertainties about the conditions under which food will be available in the global economy.

Food prices have recently risen dramatically across the world, on top of steady rises since the beginning of this decade. The main impacts are being felt in poorer developing countries where up to 90% of household income is spent on food.

Australia's response

Addressing food insecurity is a priority of the Australian Government. As an immediate response to the current world food situation, in May 2008 the Government announced a $30 million contribution to the emergency appeal of the World Food Programme (WFP) to address critical gaps in its food aid operations as a result of rising food and fuel prices.

Over the longer term, the Australian Government will develop a comprehensive action plan to lift Australia's engagement in international efforts to address the root causes of food insecurity in developing countries. The action plan will aim to:

  • lift agricultural productivity in key staple crops through increased support for agricultural research and development;
  • improve rural livelihoods by increasing the competitiveness of agriculture, fisheries and other rural enterprises; and
  • build community resilience to shocks by strengthening social protection systems.

Open international trade is also crucial to increasing food security in the long term. Reducing tariff and subsidy barriers provides increased opportunities for developing countries to expand agricultural production and exports.

The Australian Government currently collaborates with various partners to address food security issues, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. AusAID also partners with NGOs through its AusAID-NGO Cooperation Program to support community-level food security initiatives. In addition, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) works closely with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, including in the Asia-Pacific region the International Rice Research Institute and the International Water Management Institute.

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