USDA eyes more than 200,000 tons of Food for Peace purchases by March

The Agriculture Department, which has temporarily taken over management of the Food for Peace program, is partnering with the World Food Program to distribute more than 200,000 tons of international food aid, with purchases of U.S. commodities anticipated by March, according to documents seen by Agri-Pulse.

Agri-Pulse reported earlier this month that the department had assumed management of the Food for Peace program from the State Department as part of an interagency agreement signed in December.

On Wednesday, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg signed an agreement in principle to commit up to $432 million to supporting emergency food and nutrition assistance in seven countries -- the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya and Rwanda.

A further $20 million has been set aside at USDA to get the program off the ground, according to a USDA official, but any unused funds will also go towards the assistance.

USDA expects to buy over 200,000 tons of U.S. commodities, according to the agreement, including 45,000 tons of rice, 37,000 tons of cornmeal, 36,000 tons of sorghum, 31,000 tons of wheat, 13,000 tons of yellow split peas, 12,000 tons of vegetable oil, and 22,000 tons of specialized nutritious food. The commodities will be purchased using fiscal year 2025 funding, according to a forthcoming press release. 

The department has another $1.2 billion in FY26 Food for Peace funding. 

“USDA anticipates issuing this initial Food for Peace award to WFP, which will lead to purchases of bulk and formulated U.S. agricultural commodities by March,” USDA's statement reads.

The Food for Peace program is statutorily assigned to the U.S. Agency for International Development. But when the Trump administration shuttered the agency in July, officials brought it under the State Department’s purview.

Multiple industry groups and lawmakers had been pushing to move the program to USDA, however, arguing that the department’s experience managing the McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress aid programs made it a more natural home. 

USAID had also partnered with the WFP on food aid distribution, but USDA  asked the United Nations organization to commit to several reforms to better reflect an “America First” approach.

The agreement in principle clarifies that WFP will procure commodities of “100% U.S. origin,” continue complying with measures to prevent “waste, fraud and abuse,” and advance efforts to reduce the “long-term dependency on foreign aid.”

“Under USDA, the Food for Peace program will benefit American farmers and producers and help people in need around the world in a way that respects hardworking American taxpayers,” Lindberg says in the forthcoming press release. 

The North American Millers’ Association, which has been leading efforts to lobby lawmakers to permanently moved Food for Peace to USDA, called the announcement a “much-needed and welcome revival of the program.”

“USDA is fulfilling the American promise, and original intent, of Food for Peace, by using our bountiful agricultural resources to help those facing famine emergencies around the world,” said NAMA Vice President of Government Affairs Kim Cooper said in a statement.

“We always knew USDA had the heart, talent, and sound judgement to run Food for Peace, and they keep proving us right. Now, it is time for Congress to act and make USDA’s operation of this America First program permanent.”

 There is plenty of interest among farm-state lawmakers. 

"We are redoubling our efforts to get the bill that we've introduced ... accomplished," Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told Agri-Pulse Wednesday. 

House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., told Agri-Pulse earlier this month that he would also like to see the move to USDA codified in legislation.

“I would love to do that in the farm bill,” he said. 

Aid experts and USAID veterans warned in early 2025 that USDA may not have the manpower to run Food for Peace – and the department is even more constrained today after shedding 18% of its workforce last year.

But Moran said that he has received assurances USDA can manage the program.

“I've asked that question, and they indicate that they have the capability to implement the program, but I think that's something we need to pay attention to,” he said.

Lydia Johnson contributed to this report. 

For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.