ASA endorses legislation to support the continued operation of Food for Peace by moving the program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The American Soybean Association applauds Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Tracey Mann for introducing legislation to maintain the Food for Peace Program as the Trump Administration continues its audit of federal agencies and programs. Food for Peace supplies food-insecure communities throughout the world with nutrition assistance that includes U.S. soy.

“U.S. soybeans play an important role in addressing global hunger,” said Caleb Ragland, ASA president and a soybean farmer from Kentucky. “Soybeans are the only plant-based protein that provides all nine amino acids essential for human health, and our farmers have been proud to support international food assistance programs. ASA strongly supports efforts to protect these programs and to ensure U.S. grown commodities continue to feed vulnerable populations around the globe. We thank Representative Mann and Senator Moran for their leadership on this important issue.”

ASA was grateful to see the recent announcement from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service that activities critical to addressing global hunger are continuing. U.S. soybean farmers strongly support the Food for Progress program and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. Both programs play an important role in feeding people around the world, while building a foundation of long-term trading relationships for U.S. agricultural products.

The United States Agency for International Development administers the Title II Food for Peace program, which is the U.S.’s flagship international food aid program. In FY2024, USAID procured roughly $110 million worth of U.S. soy for Food for Peace. USAID has also utilized Food for Peace to procure Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), of which soy is a critical ingredient.

In addition to Food for Peace, ASA supports the restoration of program funding for the 19 Feed the Future Agriculture Innovation Labs housed at land-grant universities. These facilities, including the Soy Innovation Lab, support critical research to combat agricultural challenges in underdeveloped countries and further expand markets for U.S. soybean farmers.