By Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas
October 8, 2026, the US Department of Agriculture announced US$825 million in “America First” international food assistance investments, which will mobilize significant purchases of US-grown commodities to promote global food security.
Administered across the Food for Peace, McGovern-Dole Food for Education, and Food for Progress programmes, these investments aim to help many of the world’s most vulnerable populations, support America’s hardworking farmers and producers, strengthen America’s global agriculture influence and safeguard international food security, while creating future commercial partners and safeguarding hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
“When we share America’s bounty with people in need around the world, the hardworking producers that make it possible benefit too,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering. “US sourcing and shipping mean our humanitarian efforts lead to opportunities here at home, saving lives and moving nations from dependence to self-reliance, while ensuring every taxpayer dollar delivers a return on investment for the American people.”
Latest key programme awards include:
Food for Peace will purchase approximately 129,000 metric tons of US-grown commodities to support emergency food assistance in Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti. To accomplish this, USDA has signed agreements in principle to deliver a further US$357 million across eight projects. This latest tranche of funding is in addition to US$687 million in earlier emergency funding previously for the World Food Programme (US$452 million, Feb. 3, 2026) and an agreement in principle with Catholic Relief Services (US$235 million, July 14, 2026).
McGovern-Dole will purchase 62,150 metric tons of US-grown commodities to support seven five-year projects across Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Guinea, Honduras, Liberia and Timor-Leste — delivering school meals to 6,415 schools to improve literacy and attendance, while introducing 1.2 million children and their families to premium US agricultural goods.
Food for Progress will purchase 311,650 metric tons of US-grown commodities to modernize value chains, reinforce science- and rules-based trade and support reliable commercial partners in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines.
Under the Trump administration, USDA is transforming international food assistance into a win-win, with lifesaving support for millions in need of food assistance and a forward-looking investment in global stability, securing supply chains and commercial opportunities for American producers and lowering costs for taxpayers and consumers.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service website will include details on finalized fiscal year 2026 Food for Peace, McGovern‑Dole, and Food for Progress agreements.
