Aust backs global food security

Australia will contribute $5 million towards running seed banks in developing countries as well as the major global seed store in Svalbard, Norway.

Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce said the money would go to the Global Crop Diversity Trust which supports conservation of the world food crop seeds to strengthen global food security.

"The Trust is playing an important role in preserving crop varieties with greater tolerance to climatic stresses such as drought and salinity," he said in a statement.