By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking action to help U.S. farmers and families in need across the globe.

On Sept. 25, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $480 million in its two international food assistance programs.

“Another important way for us to increase exports of your products is through America First international food assistance programs like the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition and Food for Progress, which rely on U.S.-grown commodities from American farmers and producers to nourish the hungry,” Rollins told the Ag Outlook Forum. “I’m proud to announce that USDA will purchase 417,000 metric tons of commodities from American farmers immediately to support these programs.”

That’s equivalent to over 16 million bushels of row crops.

“The announcement of these awards is the next step in getting commodities out of the field and into the hungry bellies as soon as next month. It’s a win-win for the global market, and most importantly, a big win for our farmers and producers here at home,” Rollins said.

For the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, USDA is providing $240 million in fiscal year 2025 funds to purchase U.S. commodities to support six projects in five countries.

Through Food for Progress, USDA is providing $240 million in FY 2025 funds to purchase U.S. commodities to support eight projects in six countries.

McGovern-Dole partners will utilize 56,170 metric tons of U.S. grown packaged commodities, a 50% increase from 2024, which will be used to provide critical school meals to vulnerable communities in Benin, Honduras, Mozambique, Pakistan and Senegal.

Food for Progress implementing organizations will sell 361,000 metric tons of U.S. grown commodities, a 12% increase from 2024, in foreign markets and use the proceeds to provide critical support to remove trade barriers, increase imports of crops for agricultural inputs for American business and ensure market access for American products in Columbia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam, Nigeria and Nepal.

Details of the fiscal year 2025 McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress funding allocations are available on the Foreign Agricultural Service website.