MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (Oct. 19, 2009) — Today, World Vision congratulated the federal government for its commitment to developing a long-term response to the global food crisis.

“Over the past year, our government has taken several positive steps and today’s outline of CIDA’s food security strategy continues to move us towards real reductions in hunger and malnutrition,” said Dave Toycen, president and CEO of World Vision Canada. “As a child-focused agency we are particularly pleased with the emphasis on improved child nutrition, including providing more vital micronutrients like Vitamin A. In poor countries, more than 3 million children under 5 die every year as a result of poor nutrition. This investment will help reduce that unacceptable number.”

Last year CIDA untied food aid, removing the long-standing requirement that half of the food supplied by Canada must be purchased in Canada. Food security is now a CIDA priority and Prime Minister Harper announced $600 million in additional funding for agriculture during the G8 meetings in Italy last July.

Since the vast majority of malnourished people are women and children, Toycen says it essential that  the detailed CIDA food security strategy is focused on preventing child malnutrition and includes support for small scale farmers, especially women. He is anticipating that the strategy will commit Canada to delivering food aidthat meets the complex nutrient needs of mothers and pre-school children and agriculture programming that focuses not only on growing more food but also on growing more nutritious food. 

“Ensuring that more grain is available in struggling communities keeps children alive,” said Toycen, “but without access to a variety of nutritious crops and livestock,  children get sick more easily and won’t thrive or grow into healthy adults.”

“Most people who don’t have adequate amounts or variety of food are small-scale farmers and most of these farmers are women,” said Toycen. “An agriculture strategy that improves the quantity and quality of production on small-scale farms automatically improves the food security for the women and children who have the least.”

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Motivated by our Christian faith, we serve all people regardless of religion, race, gender or ethnicity. For more information, please visit WorldVision.ca.

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For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Toycen, contact:
Sharon Marshall
905-565-6200 ext. 2213
416-616-9147 (cell)
sharon_marshall@worldvision.ca