WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this week, USA Rice exhibited at the 2nd Annual International Food Aid Showcase, which brought together stakeholders to talk about the current food aid landscape. Held at George Washington University, attendees from academia, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), commodity organizations, philanthropic entities, and others shared best practices for food aid activities, noting that development work and humanitarian aid require systematic changes.
Significant changes are occurring in the landscape of international humanitarian and development assistance as major donors slash their aid budgets. Several of the NGOs noted that they’re exploring ways to diversify funding sources to ensure they can continue to meet their organizations’ objectives.
“This event provided the opportunity for USA Rice to speak with NGOs and other private organizations who utilize commodities in their assistance programs, to not only highlight the benefits of fortified U.S. rice but to also look at ways to partner together,” said USA Rice COO Sarah Moran, who participated in the event.
While food assistance programs like the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Food for Peace has eliminated their grants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Food for Progress programs are continuing, albeit with several of their projects canceled to better align foreign aid with U.S. interests.
USA Rice has been vocal in supporting U.S. government international food aid programs and ensuring they remain active, continuing to procure U.S. agricultural commodities (see
USA Rice Daily, March 25, 2025).