Increasing Food Security

Canada's government has made a pledge to make its international assistance more effective, focussed, and accountable in keeping with its Aid Effectiveness Agenda.

Food security has been identified as one of three priority themes that will help guide CIDA's work. Food security is defined as everyone having access to enough nutritious food to meet his or her daily needs on a continuous basis.

Canada has shown consistent leadership in responding to food security needs in the developing world. The announcement of CIDA's new Food Security Strategy on the occasion of World Food Day, October 16, 2009, by the Minister of International Cooperation, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, demonstrates a renewed and strengthened commitment to this critical issue.

Yet food insecurity is also one of the most important―and preventable―obstacles to alleviating poverty.

CIDA's Food Security Strategy will focus on increasing availability and access to quality nutritious food; increasing the stability of food supplies and supporting improved governance of the global food system. To achieve these goals, CIDA will concentrate its efforts over the next three years on sustainable agricultural development, food assistance and nutrition, and research and innovation.

This strategy reflects CIDA's commitment to focus its programming where real results and benefits are possible.