2026-27 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$246.3 million

2025-26 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$245.1 million

2024-25 total Australian ODA [actual]

$251.4 million

Food security remains a long-term global challenge, driven by the compounding effects of climate change, conflict, economic shocks and supply-chain disruptions. Climate change is affecting every dimension of food systems – production, processing, distribution and consumption – and is placing increasing pressure on agriculture, fisheries and rural livelihoods across the Indo-Pacific.

After reaching record highs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, global food prices have eased but remain historically elevated and volatile. FAO analysis shows renewed increases in international cereal, vegetable oil and meat prices in early 2026, reflecting higher energy costs, tight shipping conditions and pressure on fertiliser supply. Higher food prices disproportionately impact poor households and net food importing countries.

Many households in the Indo Pacific depend upon agriculture, fisheries and related food systems for their livelihoods. This makes investing in climate resilient agriculture, sustainable fisheries and food system governance an effective way of addressing chronic food insecurity, supporting nutrition outcomes, and contributing to broader poverty reduction and economic stability.

These dynamics underline the importance of investing in climate resilient agriculture, sustainable fisheries and inclusive food systems as core development priorities, not only during crises but as a foundation for long term resilience and prosperity.

How we are helping

Our approach is built around listening, respect and genuine partnership with the aim of scaling-up climate resilient farming and fisheries technologies and approaches. We work in partnership with governments, the private sector, NGOs, regional organisations and other donors to respond to immediate needs while building long-term resilience.

Australia advocates a comprehensive approach to agriculture and food security that targets the immediate needs of the poorest, while also strengthening the foundations of agricultural industries through improving agricultural productivity, sustainability and opening markets.

Australia recognises the role that climate resilient agriculture plays in addressing the complex problem of improving nutrition and encourages nutrition-sensitive agricultural investments. Our approach also focuses on improving gender equality and social inclusion. Australia has a strong focus on women's empowerment, given the important but often undervalued role women play in agricultural production and food security.

Australia is responding to growing global food insecurity by:

• continuing to provide emergency food and nutrition assistance through trusted humanitarian partners
• providing financial and technical assistance to countries in our region to help build their long-term food resilience
• supporting the development of social protection systems that provide a safety net for those affected by the food price crisis, and
• advocating for open, transparent, and predictable agricultural trade, and for avoiding export restrictions on food and fertilisers

Emergency food assistance

We provide funding to the World Food Programme to deliver emergency food assistance to those most affected by the crisis. We also provide flexible core funding to other humanitarian partners (the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Refugee Agency - UNHCR, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Relief Works Agency) to respond to the highest needs globally, including nutrition and food assistance.

Financial and technical assistance

Through our development program, Australia is harnessing its technical policy and research strengths to help communities in our region achieve greater productivity, sustainability, climate-resilience and food security. We are also helping partners in our region to  manage emerging agricultural biosecurity threats in order to safeguard livelihoods and agricultural trade.

Australia’s aid investments in climate resilient agriculture address long-term food insecurity through both adaptation and mitigation:

• support adaptation to reduce farmers' exposure to short-term climate risks, while also building resilience, so they can cope with longer-term stresses
• target mitigation, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural production.

Australia also has highly valued technical and managerial capabilities in agricultural research which are being harnessed to improve agricultural productivity in developing countries. Through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Government funds research to improve the knowledge and understanding of the challenges our partner countries face. The research also provides an evidence base to evaluate the impact of our work and improve the quality of the Australian aid program.

In addition, DFAT and ACIAR work closely with research institutions such as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and research organisations in developing countries to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and enhance rural livelihoods.

Advocating for open, transparent and predicable agricultural trade

Australia promotes policy options – underpinned by the multilateral, rules-based trading system, and science and risk-based decision making – that keep markets open, do not distort trade and do not undermine the food security of others.

We advocate for open, transparent, and predictable agricultural trade in food and fertilisers, and urge countries to avoid the imposition of distortionary trade policies such as export restrictions.

See further information on agricultural programs see Climate resilient agricultural development initiatives.