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“The question is not whether we can — Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton |
More than one billion people — one sixth of the world’s population — suffer from chronic hunger and more than 3.5 million children die from undernutrition each year. The United States is working with other governments, multilateral institutions, NGOs, private companies, and others to sustainably reduce global hunger and poverty by tackling their root causes and employing proven strategies for achieving large scale and lasting impact. We are working with partners and stakeholders to advance action that addresses the needs of small-scale farmers and agri-businesses and harnesses the power of women to drive economic growth. Our efforts will build on our comparative advantage in research, innovation and private sector-led growth. We will increase our investment in nutrition and agriculture development while maintaining our support for humanitarian food assistance.
Cambodian woman uses wooden boat for selling food on Mekong River. ©AP Image |
Feed the Future is President Obama’s signature initiative on global food security. It renews our commitment to combat chronic hunger and poverty. The strategy for Feed the Future recognizes that food security is not just about food but is also closely linked to economic security, environmental security, and human security. It is critical to the sustainable development of individuals, communities, and nations.
We know food security facilitates stable communities and resilient nations. We know agricultural development growth is more effective at reducing poverty than general economic growth. Finally, we know children need nutritious food to learn and grow.
