Feeding the world – and the hungry in particular – is a driving motivation for many agricultural producers. The U.S. wheat industry is a champion of food aid programs that allow our high-quality wheat to reach those who otherwise would likely go without.

U.S. government food aid is distributed by private voluntary organizations around the world. A broad spectrum of American society participates in the giving and handling of food aid, including the farming, processing, transportation and distribution industries. By using American-grown food in food aid, American hands and American infrastructure are involved throughout the entire operation, and we can ensure and stand by the quality of the food that is delivered.

Keep the Food in Food Aid

NAWG and U.S. Wheat Associates support in-kind food aid and believe that any use of local and regional procurement should not detract from our ability to respond to emergency needs with in-kind food aid.

Policy Priorities

At its meeting during the 2010 Commodity Classic, the NAWG Board of Directors endorsed a set of food aid principles compiled by the U.S. Wheat Associates Food Aid Working Group (FAWG). This principle statement reads as follows:

The U.S. wheat industry through its Food Aid Working Group (FAWG) is committed to global food assistance and encourages a program that includes the full range of options to help countries attain lasting and sustainable food security.

Specifically, the FAWG’s commitment is guided by the following resolutions:

• Support funding of P.L. 480 Title II food assistance programs at $2.5 billion, the full amount authorized by law.
• Support a strong, flexible U.S. food aid program that contains both in-kind donations and monetization.
• Support evaluating lessons from the Local and Regional Purchase (LRP) pilot study prior to implementing additional LRP programs.
• Support funding and implementation of LRP programs through the Foreign Disaster Assistance Act and USAID, respectively, rather than through USDA.
• Support USDA administration of Food for Progress programs.
• Support the U.S. government’s agricultural development initiatives as a supplement to existing emergency humanitarian assistance programs such as P.L. 480 Title II programs.

Food Aid Funding

NAWG supports food aid funding in the federal budget. NAWG works with coalition partners inside and outside the agricultural community to ensure proper funding for programs including PL-480, Title II, or Food for Peace; the McGovern-Dole program; the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust; Food for Progress; and appropriate development programs run through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).