US, others commit $880 mln to food security fund

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - A new World Bank-administered agriculture and food security fund will get $880 million in initial contributions over the next two years, the U.S. Treasury and other donors announced on Thursday.

The Treasury said the United States committed $475 million to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, Canada contributed $230 million and Spain $95 million. South Korea will contribute $50 million and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will deposit $30 million.

The fund was created to implement part of about $22 billion in pledges made by leaders of the Group of Eight wealthy nations last year in Italy to support food security in poor countries. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)