EU approaches to address food security challenges

The European Commission adopted two strategic communications on 31 March addressing food insecurity in developing countries.  Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs stated that it is “unacceptable that, in 2010, one billion people are still suffering from hunger and malnutrition,” The Commission is proposing that the EU provides more structured help to developing countries overcome the challenges that result in so many people being derived access to food.

The Commission proposals include helping smallholder farmers, and especially women to increase local food production, and to increase its support to demand-led agricultural research, extension and innovation by 50% by 2015. It also proposes launching a joint initiative with the African Union on the implementation of the African Land Policy Guidelines, and to provide support for targeted and flexible social safety nets that would be more effective in addressing local needs.

At a global level the Commission proposes that the EU promote reforms to the Committee on World Food Security, to that it can become the pivotal global institution on food security, and to strengthen the capacity of the international humanitarian system so that it can be more effective in its responses.  The Commission plans to €3 billion over the next three years to the initiative on global food security agreed by world leaders in Aquila iat the 2009 G8 summit. The Foreign Affairs Council will consider the proposals at its meeting on 11 May. (More information)