G/AG/GEN/147  
 
16 November 2018  
(18-7223) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
SUBMISSION BY T HE INTERNATIONAL GRA INS COUNCIL  
ON BEHALF OF THE FOO D ASSISTANCE COMMITT EE 
The following submission, dated 16 November 2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Grains Council (IGC).  
 
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1.1.  The Food Assistance Convention entered into force on 1 January 2013. The Convention expands 
the traditional focus of previous Food Aid Conventions and now incorporates additional forms of food 
assistance, including the provision of micronutrients and cash & vouchers to meet the food and 
nutrition needs of the most vulnerable populations.  
1.2.  There are currently 16 parties who have ratified, accepted or approved the Food Assistance 
Convention : Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France , Japan, Korea 
(Rep. of), Luxembourg, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden , Switzerland and the 
United  States of America.  
1.3.  The key components of the Food Assistance Convention are the Parties ' annual commitments 
to provide a defined minimum level of food assistance on a yearly basis based on the agreed 
principles of food assistance.  
1.4.  Each Party to the Convention makes a minimum annual commitment of food assistance, 
expressed in terms of value (in Party's currency of choice) or quantity, or a combinati on of both. 
After each calendar year, the Parties report their food assistance operations, detailing how they meet 
the respective commitments.  
Donor  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  
Australia    A$80 m. A$80 m. A$80 m. A$80 m. A$80 m. 
Austria  €1.495  m. €1.495  m. €1.495  m. €1.495  m. €1.495  m. €1.495  m. 
Canada  C$250  m. C$25 0 m. C$250  m. C$250  m. C$250  m. C$250  m. 
Denmark  DKK 185 m
. DKK 185 m. DKK 185 m. DKK 185 m. DKK 185 m. DKK 185 m. 
European Union  €200 m. €300 m. €350 m. €350 m. €350 m. €350 m. 
Finland  €6 m. €6 m. €6 m. €6 m. €6 m. €6 m. 
France            €33m.  
Japan  JPY 10 bn. JPY 10 bn. JPY 10bn.  JPY 10 bn. JPY 10 bn. JPY 10 bn. 
Luxembourg    €4 m. €4 m. €4m. €4 m. €4 m. 
Korea , Republic of            KRW 46 bn. 
Russia    $15 m. $15 m. $15 m. $15 m. $15 m. 
Slovenia    €30,000  €30,000  €30,000  €30,000  €30,000  
Spain      €500,000  €500,000  €10 m. €10 m. 
Sweden    SEK 200m.  SEK 200 m. SEK 200 m. SEK 200 m. SEK 200 m. 
Switzerland  CHF 34 m. CHF 34m. CHF 34m. CHF 34m. CHF 34m. CHF 34m. 
United States of 
America  $1.6 bn. $1.6 bn. $1.8 bn. $2.2 bn. $2.2 bn. $2.2 bn. 
 G/AG/GEN/147  
 
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  1.5.  The FAC is also a forum for Parties to share information and best practices in food assistance 
delivery. Meeting twice annually, the FAC  provides an opportunity for Parties to discuss the most 
efficient and effective means of delivery of food assistance. Recognizing the changing landscape of 
emergencies and other assistance needs, Parties have prioritized the consideration of new modalitie s 
for food assistance aimed at reducing associated costs, while ensuring that the most in need are 
reached.  
1.6.  Since its entry into force, the Committee has held nine sessions in London where it has 
reviewed the current and prospective food situation in devel oping countries against the background 
of recent developments in world supply and demand for grains, rice and oilseeds. Members also 
provided detailed information on responses to food emergencies, together with planned operations 
and policy developments. O ther items dis cussed at the meeting included M embers' annual 
commitments under the Convention and steps to expand membership.  
 
1.7.  In June 2018, instead of holding a session, the Food Assistance Committee, under the 
Chairmanship of Mr. Shuichi Akamatsu (Japan ) organised its second field mission to Uganda.  The 
report of the field trip and the lessons learned is available on the Food Assistance Convention website 
at: https://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/en/press/FAC_Field_Mission_2018_Uganda.pdf . 
1.8.  In October 2018 the FAC Chairperson also participated as a panellist at a side -event titled 
"Working together against food crises " organised in conjunction with the CF S in Rome.  
1.9.  The 10th Session of the Food Assistance Committee will be held in Paris on 7  December  2018 
at the invitation of France 's Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.  A seminar titled "Neglected Areas 
and Food Assistance " focussing on the lessons lea rned during the Committee 's field trip to Uganda 
and Nexus Emergency Development will be held on 6 December 2018.  The Session is open to 
invited  NGO's. 
1.10.   The 2017 narrativ e report on food assistance by M embers of the Food Assistance Convention 
will be approv ed at the 10th FAC Session and uploaded onto the Food Assistance Convention website:  
http://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/reports.aspx . 
1.11.   The Food Assistance Convention is open for accession by all food assistance -providing 
countries, including those who were not party to the Food Aid Convention, 1999, subject to a decision 
by the Food Assistance Committee.  
1.12.   For more information on the Food Assistance Convention see:  
http://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/ . 
 
 
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