Food Aid

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provides U.S. agricultural commodities to millions of people in countries, through direct donations and concessional programs.

Photo of students preparing to eat and gesturing "thumbs up." The U.S. government can provide food assistance through five program authorities: the Food for Progress Program, the McGovern–Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, the Food for Peace Act (formerly referred to as Public Law 480, Titles I, II, and III), Section 416(b), and the Local and Regional Procurement Project.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) administers Titles II and III of the Food for Peace Act. USDA administers the remaining food aid programs. Both USDA and USAID facilitate the administration of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.

Programs

The Food for Progress (FFP) program, authorized by the Food for Progress Act of 1985, provides for the donation or credit sale of U.S. commodities to developing countries and emerging democracies committed to introducing and expanding free enterprise in the agricultural sector. In most cases, commodities are monetized to support agricultural projects that increase rural incomes and enhance food security by improving agricultural productivity, supporting agribusiness development, and expanding availability of financial services.

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (Mc-Govern-Dole) Program helps support education, child development, and food security for some of the world’s poorest children. It provides for donations of U.S. agricultural products, as well as financial and technical assistance, for school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects in low-income, food-deficit countries that are committed to universal education.

Currently, both USDA and USAID have authority to purchase local and regional food aid. The Local and Regional Procurement Project (Pilot Program) was authorized as a pilot program under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). The Farm Bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a five-year local and regional purchase pilot program in developing countries from fiscal year (FY) 2009 through 2012.

The Food for Peace Act (FPA)was formerly referred to as Public Law 480 or P.L. 480. FPA has three titles, and each title has a specific objective and provides assistance to countries at a particular level of economic development. Title I is administered by USDA, and Titles II and III are administered by USAID. Title I, Trade and Development Assistance, provides for government-to-government sales of U.S. agricultural commodities to developing countries on credit or grant terms.

The Section 416(b) program is authorized by the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended. This program provides for overseas donations of surplus commodities acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Donations may not reduce the amounts of commodities that are traditionally donated to U.S. domestic feeding programs or agencies, and may not disrupt normal commercial sales.

The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust is another resource to ensure that the U.S. government can respond to emergency food aid needs. The Trust is not a food aid program, but a food reserve administered under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture.