ARLINGTON, VA – U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) welcomed the awarding of $452 million to the World Food Program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The award is the first under the USDA’s administration of the Food for Peace program.
“Transitioning administration of the Food for Peace program to USDA is already paying off for U.S. wheat farmers,” said Amanda Hoey, chief executive officer of the Oregon Wheat Commission and chair of the USW Food Aid Working Group. “We appreciate U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins for reaffirming to the world that the United States is not just a seller of grain, but a dedicated partner in global food security. Under her leadership, we are excited that this program’s successful track record continues in supporting both those in need today and our customers of tomorrow.”
While the total award includes a mix of bulk and processed commodities across a total of seven countries, 31,000 metric tons (1.14 million bushels) of U.S. wheat are expected to be programmed across several countries.
“USDA leadership has done an exceptional job of aligning this flagship program’s administration with the agency’s agricultural focus and technical expertise,” said Dalton Henry, USW vice president of policy and communications. “Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg’s active participation in USDA trade missions over this past year has provided great opportunities to engage with our most valued customers and learn how programs like Food for Peace have direct impacts on American farmers. We welcome his support of the power of in-kind donations, which have fed millions of hungry people around the world since U.S. wheat farmers first proposed donating surplus food products like wheat more than 70 years ago and thank him for his team’s effort to making this program successful.”
Food for Peace, also known as Public Law 480, was signed into law in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Since the program’s inception, U.S.-grown wheat has remained an important commodity for food assistance, routinely using around one million metric tons of U.S. wheat annually. Earlier this month, USW welcomed the announcement that the U.S. Department of State, the USDA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have signed an interagency agreement to USDA to assume administration of the Food for Peace program.
