The USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development will deploy $1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to buy U.S. commodities to provide emergency food assistance around the world. “
America’s farmers are the most productive and efficient in the world, and we rely on them to supply safe and nutritious food not only to our nation but to the global community,” says USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The U.S. produces more commodities than we can consume, so we have the opportunity to partner with USAID and extend this food to those in our global community who are struggling.”
An initial $950 million will support the purchase, shipment, and distribution of U.S. wheat, rice, sorghum, lentils, chickpeas, dry peas, vegetable oil, cornmeal, navy beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. These are commodities that align with traditional USAID international food assistance programming. USAID has selected 18 countries for the initial round of support.
