Feds Commit $125 Million to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank

Robert Granke, Chair of the Foodgrains Bank Board of Directors; Minister Jim Carr, MP; Will Bergmann, farmer, and member of the Chip-In Glenlea growing project at the $125 million funding announcement in Winnipeg on Monday (courtesy CFGB).

The federal government has renewed its funding for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, committing $125 million over the next five years to help CFGB provide food assistance in parts of the world suffering from conflict and natural disasters.

The federal government has provided funding for CFGB since its inception in 1983. Winnipeg MP and Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr announced the renewed core support in Winnipeg on Monday.

“We deeply appreciate this long-standing funding partnership with the Canadian government. It enables our member agencies and their partners to effectively respond to food crises around the world in a timely manner. We are able to combine this government funding with donor-matching dollars, much of which comes from Canadian farmers and rural communities, to help women and men recover from crises and build and strengthen their livelihoods,” explained Jim Cornelius, CFGB’s executive director.

There are over 260 farmer-led growing projects across Canada. Through the federal support, Foodgrains Bank’s members can leverage the proceeds from the sale of these crops on a four-to-one basis (up to a maximum of $25 million per year.)

Last year, the CFGB’s assistance reached over 1 million people in 40 different countries, including South Sudan, Ethiopia and Syria.

Related: 

Wake up with RealAgriculture

Subscribe to our daily newsletters to keep you up-to-date with our latest coverage every morning.

Wake up with RealAgriculture