WASHINGTON, D.C. — A number of agricultural organizations crafted a letter praising Congress’ efforts to have a strategic plan in place to feed the world’s hungry over the next several decades.
The letter, dated June 18 and sent to several Congressional committees, stated that the signing organizations support efforts by Congress and President Obama to address the global problem of food insecurity.
By 2050, the letter says, the world’s population is projected to grow by 30 percent, from 7.1 billion to 9.2 billion. Food demand will rise by as much as 60 percent, with much of that demand occurring in the poorest countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
"We believe U.S. agriculture has a central and integral role to play in addressing this critically important issue," the letter read.
Signers include AGree: Transforming Food & Ag Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Assoc., Farm Journal Foundation, Land O’Lakes International Development, National Assoc. of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Assoc., National Farmers Union, National Sorghum Producers and several others.
The specific legislation that’s being referred to is the Global Food Security Act (GFSA) of 2015, House Resolution 1567, which was introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.). A predecessor bill, H.R. 5656, the Global Food Security Act of 2014, passed the U.S. House in December, but didn’t pass the Senate.
According to a summary of the bill, the GFSA "express(es) the sense of Congress" that when the president provides assistance under the terms of the legislation, he should coordinate federal efforts to implement the so-called strategy, use "open and streamlined solicitations" to allow for the participation of a wide range of implementing partners and strengthen existing partnerships between developing country institutions of agricultural sciences with U.S. universities.
The bill "directs the president to coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive global food security strategy." It authorizes just over $1 billion for fiscal year 2015 to implement the GFSA.
The lack of long-term funding is one of the concerns about the legislation; however, if it ever becomes law this problem could be fixed, said Stephanie Mercier, senior policy and advocacy advisor at the Farm Journal Foundation.
A broader critique of U.S. food aid programs is found in the letter. The United States’ international food aid efforts need to include U.S. agricultural infrastructure more prominently as part of its overall aid strategy, the signers stated.
"We don’t oppose the existing legislation," Mercier said. "We would like the language in the bill to be strengthened. It’s a little thin the way it is now. What the letter to Congress means is the farm groups want to be a part of this debate."
"U.S. agriculture has a long legacy of hard work, ingenuity and service," Farm Journal Foundation CEO Tricia Beal added. "Farm Journal Foundation is proud to support this effort to ensure that the U.S. global food security strategy continues to prioritize agricultural development, sharing the best our dynamic community has to offer to empower smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. This goal is consistent with our industry’s values and its long-term interests."
The letter emphasized that the USDA, U.S. land grant university system, farm organizations and agribusiness should be "leveraged more prominently in international agricultural development efforts," Beal added. It was sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Foreign Relations Committee, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Committee.
The predecessor bill to H.R. 1567 did not pass out of the Senate because Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) wanted more time to discuss it, Mercier said. "There’s broad support for the bill’s concept," she stated.
