Food and Agriculture

Staff from Christian Care (Zimbabwe) and a local Zimbabwean farmer stand in a field where sustainable conservation farming is being practised.

The United Church of Canada is a member of the Winnipeg-based Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB), which was established in 1983. CFGB is a partnership of Canadian churches and church-based agencies working to end hunger in developing countries by increasing and deepening the involvement of Canadians in efforts to end hunger. On behalf of its 15 member agencies, CFGB

• collects grain and cash donations
• provides funds and expert advice for projects submitted by member agencies and their partners
• manages the procurement and supply of food commodities
• engages in public policy and education activities related to hunger, food security, food sovereignty, and food justice

CFGB is a federally incorporated non-profit corporation registered as a charitable agency.

The United Church is represented on the CFGB Board of Directors by General Council Office staff (the Emergency Response Coordinator) and a volunteer United Church member, currently a farmer and United Church minister from Saskatchewan.

In 2007/08, Canadian Foodgrains Bank approved $25.3 million in funding for 61 projects in 24 countries around the world. 31,345 tonnes of food and seed were provided and 1.3 million people benefited from these programs. The United Church, thanks to the generous donations of its members across Canada, contributed significant amounts of equity to many of these projects.

United Church Members Give to the CFGB

Many United Church members give to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Each year farmers across Canada donate land for growing projects and the crops they produce are donated to CFGB. The donated foodgrains are monetized and the funds used to support projects overseas. The growing projects are also opportunities for farmers to work together, interact socially and collectively, and celebrate the knowledge that they are doing God's work in helping to address hunger in the world and its causes. Other United Church members, including those living in cities, engage in many creative fundraising projects and give the money they raise to CFGB. All members of the United Church can be proud of and thankful for the wonderful contributions their fellow members are making in support of CFGB.

Donations to the CFGB Support Global Partners

Suffering from severe food insecurity, this community in southern Zimbabwe is receiving food aid from the United Church working through the CFGB

The monetized value of the donated grain and the cash donated by United Church members are held in trust at the CFGB in the form of equity. Over time and according to needs, the equity is allocated by the General Council Office. Usually the equity is transferred to United Church partners in the developing world in response to food insecurity crises. On some occasions, equity is shared with other CFGB members working in countries where the needs are also great. Much of the funds programmed in developing countries by CFGB members like the United Church are matched by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

CFGB Projects Funded with United Church Equity

A complete and annotated list of CFGB projects funded with United Church equity is available on CFGB's website*. Each project listed includes a brief description of the project and the name of the implementing partner. To view this list, click on "The United Church of Canada."

The CFGB website is rich with information about the work of the organization and about issues related to food and hunger (which can be found on its sitemap). Opportunities also exist to participate in CFGB food study tours* in various parts of the world.

For additional information on the United Church's work with CFGB, contact:

• Gary Kenny
  Emergency Response Coordinator
  E-mail: Gary Kenny