FOREIGN FOOD AID PROCUREMENT: WHY DOMESTIC PREFERENCING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY ALLEVIATE GLOBAL HUNGER

According to United Nations reports, from 1992 to 2007 the number of undernourished people in the world grew by 80 million. In 2008, that number grew by an additional 40 million, bringing the total number of undernourished to 963 million people, or nearly one in every six people on the planet. While the US does provide the majority of global food aid, it does so very inefficiently and often ineffectively. The US spends too much of its foreign food aid budget procuring its food and transportation, and often the food aid arrives too late to be entirely effective. Having an effective and efficient US food aid policy is important for the US Government's image in the world, for its national security, and, most importantly, for saving lives. Congress is beginning to recognize the inefficiencies of US foreign food aid efforts. Pres Obama also has made notable public statements conveying a desire to reform the food aid procurement process.