While the European Commission’s new road map on tackling hunger (launched today, April 21st) is very encouraging, particularly its recognition of the importance of smallholder farmers and women, the EU must increase its financial contributions and political will to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

The Communication does not add to EC funding committed to last year under the l’Aquila initiative¹, raising fears of window dressing by the Commission. Unless national governments and the EC substantially increase their financial commitments, it will be impossible to achieve food and nutritional security².

“Three billion Euros over 3 years is welcome, but does not demonstrate a long-term vision on ending hunger”, said Shahidur Rahman ActionAid’s Co-ordinator of the International Food Security Network. “The targeting of the aid is also essential”.

“Money needs to reach the smallholder farmers who are responsible for 90% of the food grown in Africa and produce about half of the world’s food supply. Under the l’Aquila initiative, this money will not go to smallholders. We need to see more funding, which is targeted towards those who really need it”, he said.

Aside from aid commitments, readdressing other EU policies - such as energy and trade - is key to achieving food security in the developing world. ActionAid welcomes the Commission’s moves to co-operate with international partners to address land grabbing in Africa.

But land essential for local food production in poor nations that suffer high levels of hunger is increasingly being seized from farming communities and turned over to biofuel production to meet the EU’s 10% target for renewable energy.

“Land is quickly becoming the new gold, and right now the rush is on. Poor communities are being pushed off their land, partly the result of anticipated demand for biofuels in EU countries”, said Fatou Mbaye, ActionAid’s biofuels policy officer in Senegal.

“The Commission proposal is just a first step. Now it’s up to member states to work together to commit additional money and demonstrate real political will to tackle hunger”, said Laura Sullivan, ActionAid’s Head of European Policy and Campaigns.

• Find out more about Smallholder farmers and Sustainable Agriculture
• Download ActionAid's report ‘Fertile Ground: How governments and donors can halve hunger by supporting small farmers’
• More from our EU office

Notes to Editors:

¹ In the 2009 G8 L’Aquila Initiative donors committed themselves to spending $22.2 billion on agricultural aid over 2009-2011 in response to the food crisis. “L’Aquila” Joint Statement on Global Food Security http://www.g8italia2009.it/static/G8_Allegato/LAquila_Joint_Statement_on_Global_Food_Security[1],0.pdf
² Globally, agriculture and food security spending must increase incrementally by an additional minimum of $40 billion a year to meet the MDG goal of halving hunger by 2015 and to tackle urgent hunger needs. ActionAid – MDG1 Briefing Paper- Achieving MDG1 through smallholder investment.