World food body appoints Tim Fischer

A global food conservation group has appointed former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer to its executive board.

Mr Fischer will begin his role at the Global Crop Diversity Trust from January 1, 2013.

The former Nationals leader completed his three-year tenure as Australia's first Ambassador to the Holy See on December 31, 2011.

Mr Fischer said the appointment to the trust's board was a "great privilege" as food security was a priority among his lifelong policy interests.

"Worldwide, preserving the original genetic material in our food crops matters a great deal," Mr Fischer said in a statement on Sunday.

"It goes to the core of the future of agriculture and preventing famine."

Cary Fowler, executive director of the Trust, said Mr Fischer would be an asset due to his experience in both of the worlds of agriculture and international relations.

"The conservation of crop diversity depends on persuading governments and other to mobilise funds today for benefits tomorrow," Mr Fowler said.

Australia sent its first seeds to the Trust's global seed vault in Svalbard, Norway last year.

The vault is an underground seed bank that secures duplicates of global crops if natural disasters, civil wars, extreme weather and other events destroy a unique variety.

Mr Fischer will make his first public speech since his return from Rome at the National Press Club on Wednesday.

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