Renewing the role of American agriculture in fighting global hunger
Jun 22, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC — Earlier today, a bipartisan legislative effort to restore America’s role in international food aid was announced at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Representative co-leaders Tracy Mann (R-KS), John Garamendi (D-CA), Rick Crawford (R-AR), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the American Farmers Feed The World Act of 2023.
The bill is being targeted as a 2023 Farm Bill proposal which would amend the Food for Peace Act and reform the way U.S foreign assistance programs provide international food aid, refocusing historical food assistance provided by American farmers and allied businesses interests.
The bill reduces cash, vouchers, and other administrative overhead within food aid programs implemented overseas and would in turn increase the consumption/purchases of American grown commodities for targeted food insecure countries. It delegates more oversight to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Congress on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs and requires more transparency and implementation details around projects.
The use of cash transfers for purchasing international competitors’ commodities has decreased the consumption of domestically grown commodities. The 65 years of bipartisan support in U.S foreign assistance has been threatened by the recent decline of foreign consumption of U.S commodities.
“The U.S. rice industry has a long history of supporting both domestic and international feeding programs by providing a critical food staple,” said Garrett Williams, a rice miller in Arkansas and chair of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee. “With the development of fortified rice, the industry’s role has grown even further in meeting nutritional needs for malnourished people around the world. This legislation is key to preserving the role of U.S. commodities, like rice, in U.S. international assistance programs.”
The bill has wide support amongst more than 55 agricultural commodity associations, agricultural milling associations, and agribusiness alike. Overall, the reforms aim to increase U.S agriculture’s role in international food aid, increase USDA’s oversight scope, increase efficiency regarding the protocol for the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, and improve U.S. foreign aid programs without utilizing additional funding.
A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate in the coming weeks.