USDA Launches Food for Opportunity Program

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 30, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched the Food for Opportunity Program, or FFO, designed to expand opportunities for non-traditional U.S. commodities to qualify for various international food assistance programs, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor announced today at the World Food Prize.

The new pilot program managed by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, known as FAS, will solicit applicants to apply for FFO and provide non-traditional commodities to be tested at active McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program projects.

"The goal of Food for Opportunity is to assess the suitability of commodities for use in USDA international food assistance programs and to evaluate potential future use in the McGovern-Dole program," Under Secretary Taylor said. "Through Food for Opportunity, USDA will potentially expand the commodity list available to future implementers but will also learn what effect new commodities have on school meals and how they benefit the intended beneficiaries."

Food for Opportunity is funded with $50 million provided as part of the $1 billion investment of Commodity Credit Corporation funds deployed in April 2024 by USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development, purchasing U.S.-grown commodities to provide emergency food assistance to people in need throughout the world.

In seeking stakeholder input through a Request for Information, USDA received 26 comments covering 44 commodities, foods, and items to assist with the design of FFO. In the coming weeks, FAS will solicit applicants to run the pilot program, based on the input received from the RFI. Evaluation and monitoring practices are inherent in the new program and feedback will be incorporated as appropriate.

The McGovern-Dole Program provides pre-school and school food for education programs in foreign countries to improve food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and improve literacy and primary education, particularly with respect to girls. Through the McGovern-Dole Program, the United States is the largest donor to global school feeding programs. 

According to the Global Report on Food Crisesand the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, an estimated 205 million people need life-saving food assistance, and some 768 million people are facing chronic hunger.

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