L’AQUILA, Italy, (Reuters) – Leaders from rich  nations at the G8 summit in Italy will commit $15 billion over  three years to spur agricultural investment in poorer countries  and combat hunger, a final draft statement seen by Reuters said.

The text, to be issued after talks today, did not make  clear whether it was all new funds, nor did it give details of  individual countries’ contributions, although the United States,  Japan and the European Union (EU) are expected to step in with  around $3 billion each.

It also made no mention of a trust fund for the  contributions to be managed by the World Bank, a proposal put  forward by Washington in previous drafts but opposed by the EU.   “We welcome the commitments made by countries represented at  L’Aquila towards a goal of mobilising at least $15 billion over  three years,” the statement said.

“We are committed to increase investments in short, medium  and long-term agriculture development that directly benefits the  poorest and makes best use of international institutions,” it  added.

It said the combined effect of longstanding underinvestment  in agriculture, price volatility and the economic crisis had led  to increased poverty and hunger in developing countries.

The United Nations says the number of malnourished people  has risen over the past two years and is expected to top 1.02  billion this year, reversing a four-decade trend of declines.

The statement said the G8 summit kept a strong commitment to  ensure adequate emergency food assistance, but its focus on  agricultural investments reflects a U.S.-led shift towards  longer-term strategies to fight hunger.

The United States is the world’s largest aid donor of food  — mostly grown domestically and bought from U.S. farmers.

The leaders said their approach would target increased  agriculture productivity, stimulus to harvest interventions,  emphasis on private sector growth, women and smallholders,  preservation of natural resources, job expansion, training and  increased trade flows.    The announced $15 billion in funds over three years compares  with $13.4 billion which the G8 says it disbursed between  January 2008 and July 2009 for global food security.