Countries hit heavily by food shortages often rely greatly on foreign food aid to prevent starvation. The United States is the leading donor in food aid worldwide, but its food aid policies have come under heavy criticism by analysts. Often this criticism comes as a result of the practice of “dumping,” as described in the Great Decisions 2009 article and in this earlier Global Food Crisis posting, in which crops produced by developing countries must meet a litany of standards before they can be used as domestic food aid.
However, a new approach to U.S. foreign food aid may be on the horizon, according to this IRIN Global report. The article details a possible shift in policy to include the coupling of U.S. donations into beneficiary countries with U.S. purchases of foods produced by the beneficiary country.
These measures are included in legislation currently making its way through Congress, with many supporters claiming that it will broaden U.S. policy while providing more fundamental assistance to local farms in beneficiary countries. Its detractors, however, are less convinced that it will help those local markets.
How do you think this kind of approach to U.S. food aid policy will affect the global food crisis? Leave your reactions and questions in the comments section on this post.
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Do you have a question about food security you would like to hear addressed at the Town Hall? Click on the “Town Hall Questions” link to the right to submit a question and learn about this special event. Posted questions may be presented to the panelists at the Town Hall on April 4th.
