USDA Plans to Purchase 211,000 Metric Tons of U.S. Commodities for Food Aid

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to purchase nearly 211,000 metric tons of American-grown agricultural commodities as part of its administration of the Food for Peace international food assistance program.

Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg said USDA intends to enter into an agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide up to $452 million in fiscal year 2025 assistance. The funding will be used to deliver U.S.-produced food to people in need in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya and Rwanda.

For U.S. farmers and producers, the move means increased demand for American-grown commodities as food aid must now be sourced entirely from U.S. origin products.

What Farmers Should Know

USDA said the Food for Peace program will now operate under an “America First” approach, which includes:

• Procurement of 100% U.S.-origin commodities
• New accountability measures to prevent fraud, waste and abuse
• Efforts to reduce long-term dependence on foreign aid

“America’s farmers and ranchers are the best in the world – and have a great bounty of high-quality products to share with the world. I am thrilled USDA can make that happen through America First international food assistance programs,” said Under Secretary Lindberg. “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.”

USDA Now Administers Food for Peace

Food for Peace was previously managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and is now being implemented by USDA through an inter-agency agreement.

In fiscal year 2025, USDA has already moved nearly 500,000 tons of American-grown food worldwide through the Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole programs. USDA officials said managing Food for Peace alongside those programs is expected to improve efficiency and create cost savings.

“This announcement marks an important next step as the United States recalibrates its partnership with the United Nations as directed by President Trump. This enables the U.S. to continue to feed the world more efficiently while at the same time leveraging the bountiful harvest of our wonderful farmers,” said U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome Ambassador Lynda Blanchard.

Commodities Expected for Purchase

USDA anticipates issuing its first Food for Peace award to WFP soon, with commodity purchases expected by March. Products may include:

• Ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF)
• Wheat
• Corn-Soy Blend Plus
• Beans, peas and lentils
• Rice
• Sorghum
• Vegetable oil

Additional Food for Peace awards will be made public as funding becomes available.