Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure global food security for the long term.

The UK is working with our international partners to address the underlying causes and promote robust food systems in low-income countries shaped by our Agriculture Development Policy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfids-conceptual-framework-on-agriculture). Over 15 programmes in Africa and Asia aim to improve income and productivity of smallholder farmers through better access to market, finance and sustainable practices. The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) promote innovations, investment and businesses that create jobs and boost food production. UK funding for agricultural research and development is promoting new food and agriculture technologies, including new crop varieties that are nutritious, higher-yielding and resilient to climate change.