Food Security

FAS leads USDA’s two statutorily required food security programs, the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and Food for Progress. Through these programs, American farmers, ranchers and producers generously share their bounty with the world to ensure long-term food security and open key markets for American businesses.

Programs

Food Security

Food for Progress

Purchases bulk U.S. agricultural commodities from American farmers, ranchers and producers to be sold commercially in emerging economies to support agricultural programs that increase opportunities for U.S. trade.
Use of U.S. agricultural commodities to support school meal programs that reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Supports field-based projects that provide development assistance and emergency food relief using locally procured commodities.
Funds set in reserve to help the United States respond to emergency food needs worldwide.
Fellowships and Exchanges

Borlaug Fellowship Program

The Borlaug Fellowship Program offers mentoring and training to researchers and policymakers from developing countries to help promote food security and economic growth.
Fellowships and Exchanges

Cochran Fellowship Program

Provides short-term, U.S.-based training opportunities to agricultural professionals from developing and middle-income countries.
Fellowships and Exchanges

Faculty Exchange Program

Provides semester-long U.S. training opportunities to university-level agricultural educators from developing countries.
Provides fellowships to U.S. citizens to assist developing countries in establishing school-based agricultural education and youth extension programs.
Fellowships and Exchanges

Embassy Science Fellows Program

Places U.S. Government technical experts at American embassies abroad to provide expertise on issues relating to the environment, science, technology and health.
Supports collaboration between teams of scientific and technical experts from the United States and the People’s Republic of China.
Supports joint research, education, and extension projects between U.S. and international agricultural professionals.
Fellowships and Exchanges

Scientific Exchange Program

The Scientific Exchange Program supports scientific training, collaborative research and mentoring between U.S. scientists and international agricultural professionals.

Data and Analysis

Building upon initial consultations held in summer 2024, Canada’s Competition Bureau seeks public comments on new guidelines regarding environmental claims. Interested stakeholders have until February 28, 2025, to send their comments.
The Communist Party of China’s (CPC) annual Central Rural Work Conference (CRWC) was held on December 17-18, 2024.
Attaché Report (GAIN)

China: Overview of the PRC Draft Food Security Law

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is in the process of drafting a “PRC Food Security Protection Law” with the stated purposes of safeguarding the nation’s grain supply, ensuring domestic food security, and protecting the PRC's economic and social...

News and Features

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering led the U.S. delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service announced today up to $208 million for the Food for Progress Program awards.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service announced today up to $240 million for the FY 2025 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole) awards.