Farm Bill must fight hunger at home and overseas

It's urgent Congress write a new Farm Bill that fights hunger at home and overseas. Democrats and Republicans must work together to get this major legislation passed that impacts our nation’s agriculture and food policies.

There is supposed to be a new Farm Bill written every five years. The last Farm Bill expired in 2023 and has been living on an extension until September. It is time to get a new Farm Bill done.

Domestically, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) must be protected in the Farm Bill. SNAP is a front line defense against hunger in America, giving millions of impoverished families purchasing power at grocery stores. Proposals in Farm Bill negotiations that would reduce SNAP funding are worrisome.

If SNAP funding is reduced then foodbanks will be forced to make up the difference to feed hungry Americans. Foodbanks are already overwhelmed and cannot take on this extra burden. SNAP must be kept strong in the Farm Bill to fight hunger in America.

“It’s time for Congress to return to its bipartisan roots and pass a Farm Bill that prioritizes improving the lives of millions of households who struggle to get the nutrition they need. We urge lawmakers to uphold this fundamental Farm Bill principle and only advance comprehensive legislation that protects and strengthens SNAP” said Ellen Teller, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC).

The Farm Bill is also essential to our fight against hunger worldwide. The Food for Peace (FFP) program needs be reauthorized in the Farm Bill as it is our main tool against world hunger. With wars and climate change causing hunger emergencies worldwide, we need a strong Food for Peace program.

But Food for Peace cannot just supply U.S. food alone to solve hunger.

As Bill O'Keefe of Catholic Relief Services explains "We proudly utilize US commodities in our international food assistance programs, including FFP. However, addressing the global hunger crisis requires more than just giving out food. Programs must adapt to local market conditions and empower participating communities toward recovery and self-reliance.”

There has to be the right balance between using U.S. food for global hunger relief but also allowing programs that support agriculture overseas to continue. Food for Peace must help farmers in developing countries build resilience to get through disasters like drought. Food for Peace must retain flexibility in its program so it can obtain food from local sources within developing nations.

The key for Congress is to listen to the charities that implement Food for Peace programs.

“As a Food for Peace implementer in six countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, we know what it takes to implement quality programs that are fighting hunger and building resilience” said Christy Gleason, Vice President for Policy, Advocacy, and Campaigns, Save the Children.

“The resilience-building programs housed in Food for Peace are vital to preparing frontline communities for future shocks that could impact their food security – whether it be from climate change, conflict, or economic downturns" says Gina Cummings of Oxfam.

Food for Peace includes life-saving child feeding programs. Infants in war and disaster zones are especially vulnerable to deadly malnutrition and need enriched foods like Plumpy'Nut.

Also in need of reauthorization on the Farm Bill is the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. Named after former senators George McGovern and Bob Dole, the program provides school lunches to children in impoverished countries.

School lunches are a life-saver in many countries, allowing children to eat and stay in school. Without the free lunches, parents often withdraw their kids from school to search for food. The Farm Bill must also allow flexibility for McGovern-Dole in terms of using U.S. food or food from farmers in the developing countries. The goal is to help nations build a self-sufficient, lasting school lunch program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture runs McGovern-Dole and charities like the UN World Food Program, Save the Children, CARE, and Catholic Relief Services receive funding to provide school feeding. Nations that have benefited from McGovern-Dole include Haiti, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Benin. But we can do a lot more in these countries and others by increasing funding for school meals.

You can encourage your representatives in Congress to create a Farm Bill that fights hunger at home and in impoverished countries. America and the world benefit from a good Farm Bill.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.“