International responses to food crises have generally focused on addressing immediate humanitarian needs, as evidenced by the growing share of food aid that is channeled to emergencies. However, achieving lasting food security would often require an integrated development approach that combines short-term relief measures with longer-term mitigation strategies. This presentation argues that a reformed Food Aid Convention (FAC) could provide the institutional framework for more effective interventions. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Promoting agricultural inputs
under the Food Aid Convention
Abdolreza Abbassian
Secretary of the Intergovernmental
Group on Grains, FAO
Presentation at the Food Aid Convention Workshop
Brussels, 22 October 2010

2. Brussels, 22 October 2010 2Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The emergency context
925 million hungry people
198 natural disasters in 2009
98 countries affected by the food
crisis
70 actual or potential conflicts
30 countries currently in need of
external food assistance
27 humanitarian appeals in 2009 –
FAO participated in all
FAO supports
countries and
partners to
prepare for and
respond to
food and
agricultural
threats and
emergencies

3. Brussels, 22 October 2010 3Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
22 countries in protracted crisis

4. Brussels, 22 October 2010 4Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
What defines a “protracted crisis”?
 Longevity of the crisis (8 crises over the past 9
years; or 12 crises in 14 years)
 High level of humanitarian assistance
(humanitarian aid at least 10 percent of ODA
since 2000)
 Classification as “low-income food-deficit
country” (LIFDCs)

5. Brussels, 22 October 2010 5Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Food-related assistance needs have changed
 Increase in protracted crises of different causes
with food producers at the forefront
 Strong link between the transitory and the
structural causes of food insecurity
 Twin-track approach needed: offer immediate
help to the affected populations and provide the
necessary assistance for reconstruction and
recovery

6. Brussels, 22 October 2010 6Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Growing number of emergencies…
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1981-1990 1991-2000 2001-2010
Combination of the two
Man-Made Disasters
Natural Disasters
Averagenumberofcountriesfacinganemergency
Source: GIEWS (2010)

7. Brussels, 22 October 2010 7Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
…that often continue for 10 years or more
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Countries affected (%)
Minimumlengthofemergency(years)
Source: GIEWS (2010)

8. Brussels, 22 October 2010 8Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Strategies for quicker recovery
 Break the cycle of long-term structural problems
that cause greater vulnerability in the short term
 Support survival strategies of affected
populations and strengthen their resilience
 Increase productivity through a greater use of
agricultural inputs (e.g. seeds, fertilizers, tools)

9. Brussels, 22 October 2010 9Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
How does the Food Aid Convention fit in?
 Currently, only seeds for eligible products are
included in the FAC
 What is more, the amount of seeds shall not
exceed 7% of a donor’s entire commitment
 Renegotiating the FAC provides a window of
opportunity to incorporate a broader set of
agricultural inputs

10. Brussels, 22 October 2010 10Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
What issues should be considered?
 Providing agricultural inputs must not compromise
the FAC’s responsiveness to immediate food
needs
 FAC funding arrangements for agricultural inputs
needs to provide a greater degree of certainty
 Any modifications of the FAC should be aligned
with an eventual Doha Round agreement of WTO

11. Brussels, 22 October 2010 11Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Emergency needs have sometimes exceeded FAC commitments
Figure 6.1. Total food aid, emergency use and
FAC commitment (million MT)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
Total food aid
Emergency use
FAC commitment
Amountoffoodaid(inmilliontons)

12. Brussels, 22 October 2010 12Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
What other changes are desirable?
 Raise FAC’s minimum commitments
 Broaden FAC membership to include new
emerging donors
 Earmark resources to emergency operations to
meet immediate food needs
 Introduce flexible funding arrangements to better
respond to changing needs

13. Brussels, 22 October 2010 13Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
For more information
Making the Food Aid Convention
Meet the realities of the 21st century
Some proposals for more effective interventions
Economic and Social Perspectives,
Policy Brief No. 11, FAO.
www.fao.org/economic/es-policybriefs