FOOD SECURITY: PM RUDD PLANNING TO ATTEND L'AQUILA

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000559 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT SPECK, CLEMENTS, MORTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID PREL AS SUBJECT: FOOD SECURITY: PM RUDD PLANNING TO ATTEND L'AQUILA MEETING REF: SECSTATE 58996 ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see para 4. ¶2. (U) Per instructions in reftel, Econoff and Ag Counselor discussed information in reftel with AusAID and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on June 12. We subsequently passed a copy of the points in reftel to the Americas Desk at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well. ¶3. (SBU) On June 15, AusAID Director for Food Security and Rural Affairs Rebecca Bryant called econoff to provide Australia's initial response. Bryant said that PM Rudd had been invited to attend the food security event at L'Aquila and was planning to do so. She said that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was preparing a detailed brief for Rudd and that post should expect a request for more details than those provided in the demarche in the next few days. On substance, Bryant noted that Australia shared broadly the goals highlighted by the U.S., but had already substantially increased their multilateral food assistance and was unlikely to bring forward additional money for purely multilateral efforts. In May, PM Rudd's budget included A$464 million over four years for the Food Security Through Rural Development initiative (including A$40 million in 2009-2010), which works with other donors and research institutions in key countries in the region and the Pacific Islands to lift agricultural productivity and sustainability. Bryant said that Australia was still examining possible increases to key bilateral assistance programs on food security. ¶4. (U) ACTION REQUEST: We expect that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will seek out more details of the U.S. plan to increase our food security assistance program. We request that EEB provide any additional questions specific to Australia, as well as any available information on what multilateral bodies might serve as the principal venue for USG assistance and timelines for such assistance over the 2010-2012 period. CLUNE