Feeding a World in Need

For more than 60 years, the agriculture community in the United States has led global efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and to enhance food security through international food aid. Nebraska producers play a crucial role in helping feed the world, and the need for their expertise becomes even more prevalent in times of crisis.

By 2050, the world’s population is expected to swell by 30 percent to more than nine billion people. Demand for food is projected to grow as much as 60 percent. Innovations in agriculture are allowing farmers to increase their yields with fewer resources, but a growing demand also requires us to be efficient and responsible in food distribution.

It is important to evaluate our international food aid programs to ensure they are working as intended. The House of Representatives, specifically the House Agriculture Committee, is leading a thorough review of food aid programs to see what is working well, what is not, and what needs to be done to allow these programs to most effectively serve those in need worldwide.

The 2014 Farm Bill included several important reforms to international food aid programs. Most notably, Title II of the Food for Peace Act received additional flexibility to respond as needed in times of crisis. This program, administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), includes donations from U.S. agriculture producers to intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations. More than 35 million people worldwide received emergency food aid through this program in fiscal year 2013.

Some lawmakers and special interest groups are now pushing to move our international aid systems toward more cash-based assistance and away from food aid. Unfortunately, they are not giving the important reforms accomplished in the Farm Bill enough time to be evaluated. If additional changes need to be made, they should be done in the context of the next Farm Bill with the input of American producers.

After a natural disaster, local markets are often decimated. Following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010, cash vouchers could provide little assistance to the Haitian people in towns completely destroyed. Food aid, however, arrived from the U.S. within 48 hours. Relying too heavily on cash-based aid at the expense of food aid would be detrimental to those facing severe, hostile conditions in the midst of a crisis.

Cash-based assistance also poses significant risks. In countries facing war or natural disasters, it is extremely difficult to ensure cash will reach the people who need it most. In the Middle East, for example, many disaster areas are surrounded by terrorist organizations. It is nearly impossible to prevent financial aid from falling into the wrong hands in those situations. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has issued reports raising concerns about vulnerability to counterfeiting, fraud, and misuse in cash-based programs, further highlighting the importance of in-kind food donations.

As our country continues leading efforts to assist people in need around the world, the agriculture community should remain at the forefront of decisions on how these goals are achieved. Food aid is a necessary component of U.S. diplomacy, and the work ethic of American producers will undoubtedly allow us to provide for the growing needs of an increasing global population.