U.S. Initiatives to Promote Global Food Security

Historically, the United States has been the single largest donor of emergency food aid to the developing world. But recent events, such as the food crisis and economic recession, along with shifts in global policies have spurred U.S. investment in long-term agricultural development, particularly through small-scale farmers, as a mechanism for reducing hunger and poverty worldwide.

The small-scale farmers who stand to gain the most from these increased investments in agriculture are women. Empowering women and ensuring their full potential as farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs will more effectively grow economies and stave off malnutrition. ICRW advocates for U.S. investments in agricultural development to involve women, as both farmers and caregivers, in efforts to expand agriculture.

U.S. Global Food Security Act

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are considering the “Global Food Security Act of 2009,” introduced by Sens. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in the Senate and Representative Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) in the House. ICRW supports this effort.

The legislation would authorize U.S. foreign assistance funding over five years for the development of a comprehensive food security strategy with a focus on agricultural development, particularly through increasing the capacity and productivity of small-scale farmers. The strategy outlined in the legislation would reach women farmers and ensure their equitable access to productivity-enhancing resources such as land, seeds, fertilizer, technologies, extension training and higher education.

Congressional Cosponsors »

Feed the Future Initiative

Feed the Future aims to partner with national governments and others to invest in agriculture to increase the productivity of small-scale farmers and raise the incomes of the poor. In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama committed to investing $3.5 billion over three years in agricultural development. A broad range of U.S. government departments and agencies, including USAID, the State Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Treasury Department, and the National Security Council, have come together in unprecedented coordination to craft the administration’s initiative.

ICRW supports the administration’s efforts to work with local civil society organizations and women’s farming cooperatives to ensure that women benefit equally from the initiative’s activities.