The food facility: A rapid response from the European Union

This booklet presents the Food Facility of the European Union. It was put in place to enable developing countries to face the effects of the 2008 food crisis, partly caused by the significant rise in food prices. The food facility was created to deliver rapid and effective, short term and long term assistance to the most affected countries. The EU has allocated 1 billion euros to this instrument. 3 categories of activities are involved:

• Better access to inputs and agricultural services by local producers (fertilizers, seeds and training)

• Mechanisms to increase or maintain agricultural-production capacities, and to meet the priority food needs of the most vulnerable populations, especially children

• Other small scale measures such as microfinancing, investments, equipment, infrastructure, stocks, as well as training and professional assistance in agriculture.

 European Commission - June 2010