WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/AG/N/AUS/81 
27 August 2010 
 (10-4486)  
Committee on Agriculture Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
  The following submission, dated 26 July 2010, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Australia .  The notification concerns actions ta ken within the framework of the 
Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negativ e Effects of the Reform Programme on Least-
Developed and Net Food-Importing Developing Countries ( Table NF:1 ) for the financial year 
2008/2009 .  
 
_______________ 
 
  Australia untied its food aid in 2005.  Since then, Australia has not provided physical food aid, but instead provided food assistance in the form  of cash contributions to international agencies. G/AG/N/AUS/81 
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  Table NF:1 
 
Notification under Article 16:2 of the Agreement:   
Monitoring of the Follow-Up to the Decision on 
Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of  
the Reform Programme on Least Developed and Net  
Food-Importing Developing Countries:  Australia 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  Financial Year 2008/2009 
  
(1) Quantity of food aid provided to least developed and net food-importing developing 
countries:  
 Australia supported the provision of 94,912
 tonnes (158,592 wheat equivalent tonnes) of food 
aid through international agencies valued at $A102 million in 2008/09.  Of the food aid provided: 
• humanitarian and emergency food aid totalled 58,387 tonnes (70,945  wheat equivalent 
tonnes) valued at $A23.3 million (see Attachme nt A).  This data includes emergency food 
aid to Least-Developed Countries (LDCs)1 and Net Food-Importing Developing 
Countries (NFIDCs).2 
• all food aid to LDCs and NFIDCs totalled 70,121 tonnes (115,222 tonnes wheat 
equivalent) valued at $A26.5 million (see Attachment B). 
(2) Indication of the proportions in fully gr ant form or appropriate concessional terms: 
 
 All Australian food aid is provided on fully grant terms. 
 
(3) Technical and financial assistance under paragraph 3 (iii) of the Decision: 
  The agency primarily responsible for deliveri ng Australia's aid programme is the Australian 
Agency for International Development (AusAID) .  AusAID aims to reduce poverty and achieve 
sustainable development in developing countri es not just by improving agriculture and rural 
development, but also by directing its efforts across a variety of sectors.  The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) also assists developing countries  through both bilateral 
and multilateral projects focusing on delivering mo re productive and sustainable agriculture to 
increase food security and rural incomes.  ACIA R delivers agricultural research programmes in 
collaboration with Australian institutions and their counterparts in developing countries. 
  In the financial year 2008/09, Austra lia provided a total of $A361.2 million  for programmes 
within the ambit of the Decision related to count ries developing their food security.  Of this, over 
$A98.5 million was directed to LDCs/NFIDCs.  Th e expenditure was channelled through a number of 
programming windows including multilateral, regiona l and bilateral, humanitarian/emergency 
assistance, non-government organisations (NGOs ), ACIAR and a small amount through other 
government departments (OGDs).  
                                                     
 
 1 Based on least-developed countries as recognised by the Economic and Social Council of the United 
Nations. 
 2 LDCs as well as Barbados, Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, 
Gabon, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius, Mo ngolia, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Peru, Saint Kitts 
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincen t and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and 
Venezuela.  G/AG/N/AUS/81 
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Direct aid flows for food se curity, by programme, 2008/09 
   
Programme Sub Programme 2008/09($A) 
Bilateral & Regional Programmes Bilateral Programmes 
Regional Programmes 70,318,548
79,067,904 
Global Programmes Humanitarian 156,751,768 
Non-AusAID Programmes ACIAR 10,754,725 
 Other Government Departments 44,328,032 
Total  361,220,977 
Source :  AusAID statistical datamart   
 
 
Direct aid flows for food security, by  programme, LDCs and NFIDCs, 2008/09 
   
Programme Sub Programme 2008/09($A) 
Bilateral Programmes 8,448,084 Bilateral & Regional Programmes 
Regional Programmes 51,665,676 
Global Programmes Humanitarian 32,400,000 
Non-AusAID Programmes ACIAR 2,005,760 
 Other Government Departments 4,018,651 
Total  98,538,171 
Source :  AusAID statistical datamart 
 
 All financial assistance provided through AusAID  and ACIAR is in fully grant form.  Some 
further information follows. 
 
(i) Australian Agency for Intern ational Development (AusAID) 
 
Bilateral and Regional Programmes  
 
 The majority of Australia's aid is deliver ed through bilateral (or country) and regional 
programmes.  Bilateral country strategies reflect recipient government priorities as well as Australia's 
capacity to assist.  Specific activities are develope d with partner countries in order to provide 
technical and financial assistance.  Australia al so supports several regional programmes which are 
often the most cost effective response to region-wide development challenges. 
 
 In the case of food security, the bilateral and regional technical and financial assistance 
provided to LDCs and NFIDCs wa s $A60.1 million in 2008/09.  Assistance focused on agricultural 
productivity and sustainability, crop storage, fore stry and fisheries, environmental management, 
management of water resources, the provision of in frastructure related to food security and to assist 
countries adjust to changes in trade patterns. 
 Humanitarian and Emergency
 
  In 2008/09, Australia supported a number of humanitarian and emergency relief projects 
valued at a total of A$157 million, of which $A32.4 million (in addition to food aid) was provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs.  
 G/AG/N/AUS/81 
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  (ii) Australian Centre for Internatio nal Agricultural Research (ACIAR) 
 
 Australian Centre for International Agricu ltural Research (ACIAR) is an Australian 
Government statutory authority that operates as part of Australia's Aid Program within the portfolio of 
Foreign Affairs and Trade.  It contributes to th e aid program objectives of advancing Australia's 
national interest through poverty reduction and su stainable development.  In 2008/09 the ACIAR 
expended a total of $A10.8 million, of which A$10.7 million supported mu ltilateral International 
Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs) (see Attach ment C).  The IARC's mandate is to increase 
global food security.  $A2.0 million of IARC's f unding supported research activities relating directly 
to agricultural productivity of LDCs and NFIDCs.   
 
 Projects funded under ACIAR's programmes co mprise research targeting the following food 
security and poverty alleviation issues: agricultu ral development policy and agricultural systems 
economics and management; animal sciences; crop sciences; fisheries; forestry; land and water 
resources; and post harvest technology.  The prim ary criterion on which ACIAR bases its allocation 
of Australia's funds to the IARCs is the compar ative advantage of a centre to deliver research 
applicable to Australia's regional priorities and which contributes to sustainable food security, 
agricultural productivity and income generation. 
 
(4) Other relevant information with respect to actions taken within the framework of the 
Decision 
 
Outside the aid programme a number of Federal and State Government agencies ("Other 
Government Departments") sponsor official exch anges between Australia and developing countries 
on agriculture and food security, totalling $A44.3 million in 2008/09.  Of th is, the amount of other 
government department support to LDCs and NFIDCs was approximately $ 4.0 million. 
  G/AG/N/AUS/81 
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  Attachment A  
 
Humanitarian and emergency relief, by country, 2008/09 
(including support for the World Food Pr ogramme Extraordinary Emergency Appeal)  
 
RECIPIENT Commodity Value ($A) 
  
Afghanistan 8,616,257 
  
Burma (Myanmar) 2,961,756   
Ethiopia 2,015,776 
  India 349,382 
  
Kenya 860,543   
Nepal 287,189 
  Pakistan 624,416 
  
Palestinian Territories (Gaza Strip) 801,606   
Sri Lanka 1,683,862 
  Sudan 415,129 
  
Zimbabwe 4,719,239   
Total 23,335,155 
 G/AG/N/AUS/81 
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  Attachment B
 
 Quantity of food aid provided to Least Deve loped Countries (LDCs) and Net Food-Importing 
Developing Countries (NFIDCs) 2008/09:  Breakdo wn by commodity and recipient countries. 
 
Recipient Country Commodity Type Quantity 
(tonnes) FAC1 
Wheat 
Equivalent Commodity 
Value ($A) 
Afghanistan Wheat 19,996 17,563 3,986,695 
Afghanistan Fortified Vegetable Oil 1,525 5,372 1,380,225 
Afghanistan Pulses 5,968 12,137 2,755,041 
Burma (Myanmar) Rice 12,194 21,481 4,876,127 
Burma (Myanmar) Pulses (Peas) 400 975 221,214 
Burma (Myanmar) Salt (Iodised) 75 21 4,875 
Bangladesh Rice 490 1,094 248,288 
Bangladesh High Energy Biscuits (HEBs) 375 1,322 300,039 
Bangladesh Fortified Vegetable Oil 27 135 42,084 
Bangladesh Wheat 325 657 149,096 
Bhutan Rice 613 663 150,486 
Bhutan Fortified Vegetable Oil 114 340 77,178 
Cambodia Rice 4,852 7,520 1,706,969 
Congo, DR Corn Soya Blend (CSB) 50 145 32,934 
Congo, DR Salt (Iodised) 10 10 2,300 
Congo, DR Sugar 10 30 6,740 
Congo, DR Pulses (Beans) 170 367 83,300 
Ethiopia Wheat 6,546 6,546 1,915,752 
Kenya Maize  1,061 1,283 19,764 
Laos Rice 1,155 2,127 482,917 
Nepal Rice 462 620 140,808 
Nepal Pulses (Lentils, Peas and Yellow Split Peas) 557 1,425 323,600 
Pakistan Fortified Blended Food 250 998 225,560 
Pakistan Salt (Iodised) 114 38 8,617 
Pakistan Pulses (Yellow Split Peas) 2,887 5,742 1,301,199 
Pakistan Wheat 2,056 1,680 381,347 
Pakistan Fortified Vegetable Oil 3,716 16,317 3,704,026 
Pakistan Sugar 375 816 185,250 
Sri Lanka Corn Soya Blend (CSB) 905 1,713 388,935 
Sri Lanka Rice 849 1,260 285,054 
Sri Lanka Pulses (Yellow Split Peas) 200 307 69,649 
Sri Lanka Fortified Vegetable Oil 380 1,247 283,100 
Sri Lanka Sugar 400 728 165,200 
Sudan Sorghum 104 225 50,983 
Timor Leste Corn Soya Blend (CSB) 806 1,934 403,017 
Timor Leste Fortified Vegetable Oil 60 300 71,700 
Timor Leste Sugar 44 84 18,964 
 TOTAL 70,121 115,222 26,449,033 
 
1 Food Aid Convention  G/AG/N/AUS/81 
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  Attachment C  
 Australian Centre for International Agricultur al Research (ACIAR) contribution to IARCs  
    
International Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs) 2007/08 ($A) 2008/09 ($A) 
  Core Funding Project Specific 
International Institute for Tropical Agriculture  377,596 250,000 125,266 
Asian Vegetable Research and Development 663,109 0 467,323 
Centre for Agriculture an d Biosciences 670,322 250,000 495,033 
International Centre for Agricultural  Research in Dry Areas 482,137 250,000 172,061 
World Fish Centre 827,475 500,000 516,377 
International Crops Research Institute 931,853 500,000 526,944 
International Food Policy Research 681,442 500,000 371,138 
International Water Manageme nt Institute 871,407 500,000 176,018 
International Livestock Research Institute 520,053 250,000 225,760 
International Maize and Wheat Impr ovement Centre 1,383,260 750,000 1,116,102 
International Potato Centre 607,569 250,000 351,982 
International Rice Research  Institute 1,311,038 750,000 203,490 
World Agroforestry Centre 250,000 250,000 0 
Centre for International Fore stry Research 571,571 250,000 419,099 
Biodiversity International 398,361 250,000 88,132 
Total 10,547,193 5,500,000 5,254,725 
  10,754,725 
Regional Support-  
Asia Pacific Association of Agri cultural Research Institutions 68,343  
0  
71,032 
Crawford Fund 0 0 10,000 
 Total Multilateral Funding 10,615,536  
10,835,757 
 
Source :  Ausaid Statistical Datamart   
 
 
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