Eight international agricultural research centres are to receive over €4 million in funding, the government announced today.
The research centres receiving Irish Aid support form part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an alliance of fifteen agricultural research centres, partners and members, which are working to achieve sustainable food security, improve nutrition and reduce poverty in developing countries.
Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power said the €4.4 million funding is a "central component" of Irish Aid's response to he global food crisis.
"More than 850 million people across the world today are hungry, while high food prices risk pushing 100 million additional people over the edge into hunger and poverty," said Mr Power.
"Top quality agricultural research plays a crucial role in improving the performance and sustainability of agriculture. It will also help the poorest and most vulnerable farmers cope with the effects of climate change."
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is to receive €640,000 in funding. Other research centres selected include Biodiversity International, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the World Potato Centre (CIP).
Ireland has provided more than €20 million in support of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) this year. This includes €3 million to help mitigate the effects of price rises on the WFP's existing food relief programmes.
The Hunger Task Force will report shortly to the Government on further contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to end hunger.
