Press Release: EU receives FAO’s award for work in food security

The European Union received on 15 June 2013 the first ever Jacques Diouf award from the UN’s Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO), in recognition of its pioneering work on the EU Food Facility, which has so far improved the lives of more than 59 million people in 50 countries.

The EU’s groundbreaking €1 billion Food Facility was set up in 2008, during the food crises which hit the Horn of Africa and the Sahel to provides substantial and swift support to help the worst affected people. Recent results show that in the three years since it began, the Facility has provided indirect support to 93 million people, led to the vaccination of over 44.6 million livestock, and helped to train 1.5 million people in agricultural production. It has boosted sustainable agricultural production from small-scale farmers, reduced post-harvest losses and facilitated access to markets. Beneficiaries saw a 50% increase in agricultural production and a rise in the household annual income of on average €290.

European Commission: Rapid: SPEECH/13/534: Speech by President Barroso at the acceptance of the FAO "Jacques Diouf Award" for food security http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-534_en.htm

---