Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the UK's CABI membership.

The FCDO is proud of CABI's effectiveness in using science to improve food security in developing countries and our investment in CABI's PlantwisePlus programme has received an A rating. The recent Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) Review of UK aid to agriculture in a time of climate change noted that CABI's work "strengthens capabilities in agricultural research and extension services of Member Countries".

The UK's membership offers access to their world leading expertise on plant pests and diseases and supports the FCDO's work to increase food production in developing countries. Participation in CABI's governance also provides the UK opportunities to influence CABI's strategy and build partnerships with, and understand the priorities of, other Member Countries.