An Action Alert from ActionAid USA, Oakland Institute,& Washington Office on Latin America
Each year millions of tons of food are shipped from the United States to developing countries as food aid. But a dirty little secret is hiding in the food aid system…
U.S. food aid policy is primarily geared towards the interests of multinational agribusiness and shipping companies. All food provided by the U.S. food aid program must be produced in the United States and shipped abroad at great cost. This preference given to in-kind food produced in the U.S. and the U.S. shipping industry makes U.S. food aid unnecessarily expensive. In addition, the U.S. procurement requirement delays delivery of emergency food aid by nearly five months on average.
A proposal to allow one quarter of emergency resources to be used to purchase food grown by local or regional producers is being considered in Congress. But Members of Congress need to hear from constituents that this is an issue they care about. Call your Senators and Congressional Representatives TODAY to support the proposed change in the 2007 Farm Bill which would allow for 25% of emergency food aid purchases under Title II to be provided in cash for local and regional purchase rather than as commodities purchased in the United States and shipped to developing countries.
Help Us Pressure Congress to Ensure Food Aid Goes to Those in Need, Not Corporations!
It Is Time to Change Rules and Allow Some U.S. Aid to be Used to Purchase Food Locally!
A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office based on a yearlong investigation found that rising shipping and logistical costs have halved the amount of American food delivered to the hungry in Africa, Asia and Latin America over the past five years!
A proposal to allow one quarter of emergency resources to be used to purchase food grown by local or regional producers is being considered in Congress. But Members of Congress need to hear from constituents that this is an issue they care about! Call your Senators and Congressional Representatives TODAY to support the proposed change in the 2007 Farm Bill which would allow for 25% of emergency food aid purchases under Title II to be provided in cash for local and regional purchase rather than as commodities purchased in the United States and shipped to developing countries.