Joint Media Release

Australia Supports Agricultural Research in Africa

Australia will help increase agricultural competitiveness, food production and productivity in African countries, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer and the Minister for Trade, Mr Mark Vaile, announced today. 

"This one million dollar initiative brings Australia's estimated agricultural development assistance to Africa to $25 million over the next two years,” Mr Downer said.  "It is further to our generous humanitarian assistance in times of crisis".

Mr Vaile said Australia's contribution aimed to strengthen African research capacity in the sustainable use of scarce water and improving soil fertility.

"Overcoming these issues in Africa is crucial to improving people's access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, and is an important prerequisite to improving productivity and competitiveness of the agriculture sector," Mr Vaile said.

Mr Vaile said the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) would support scientists from a range of African countries to engage with leading Australian research institutes to learn from Australian and African experience.

Australian agricultural research institutes, ACIAR and CSIRO, will be involved in delivering the assistance, in partnership with African international research institutes.

Australia would also provide access to development scholarships for Southern and Eastern Africa to further strengthen African agricultural research capacity and promote linkages between ACIAR research programs and key African scientists.

"The ultimate goal is economic growth in Africa through greater participation in growing global food markets," Mr Vaile said.

"Australia has been working to strengthen African agricultural competitiveness and support trade liberalisation efforts, including support for the current (Doha) round of WTO negotiations, through training courses for key trade negotiators from African countries."

Mr Vaile said that from 1 July 2003, Australia would remove tariffs and quotas on all goods imported from the 49 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and East Timor.  Thirty-four of the 49 countries to benefit from this move to liberalise trade are African.

Australia's agricultural support for African countries is part of the Australian Government pledge to spend A$1 billion over the next five years on programs and initiatives to enhance food security in developing countries.

Contacts: Chris Kenny (Downer's office)  02 6277 7500 /  Matthew Doman (Vaile’s office)  02 6277 7420

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