The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today issued the following statement:
"Climate change, COVID-19, conflict and economic downturns have escalated the stress on global food systems in the last few years. And in February 2022, Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine shocked global food and energy systems.
"An estimated 345 million people now live with food insecurity, and 50 million more are on the brink of famine. Sadly, the global food crisis is most severely felt by the most vulnerable people, especially women and girls.
"Canada has made significant new commitments to humanitarian food and nutrition assistance, including $615.5 million allocated in 2022, providing short-term relief with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa to partners such as the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNICEF and Canadian NGOs such as the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
"While this immediate help is vital, we will continue working with our partners in developing countries to develop longer-term solutions for greater food system resilience with an emphasis on climate-smart agriculture, fertilizers, sustainable agri-food value chains, inclusive food system governance and productive safety nets. Now is the time to achieve better nutrition, biodiversity and climate change outcomes from agriculture. When two thirds of the world's smallholder farmers are women, it is crucial to include them in decision making and in developing solutions.
"We need to find and amplify new ways to increase food productivity, reduce waste, raise incomes equitably and improve health and nutrition. It is also time to re-examine how to ensure that our food system is sustainable and provides safe food for all.
"In the last two years, Canada has invested more than $1.5 billion in projects in which farmers and key multilateral organizations work to address the underlying causes of the evolving global food crisis. On World Food Day, as the world shines a light on this urgent issue-making sure that the most vulnerable have access to enough nutritious, affordable food-Canada will be an active partner in finding solutions."
