NPR: food aid

How USAID cuts hurt American farmers

Wailin Wong — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 03:00:59 -0500

The ties between U.S. foreign aid and American agriculture run deep — or at least used to. The U.S. International Agency for Development, or USAID, is the largest provider of humanitarian food aid in the world. Much of that aid comes from U.S. farmers, whose corn, wheat and rice is sold in bulk to the government for USAID's programs. What happens now if those programs end?

Link to Jordan Schermerhorn's research of USAID ties by state.

Related episodes:
The gutting of USAID (Apple / Spotify)
A 'Fork in the Road' for federal employees (Apple / Spotify)
Trump threatens the grim trigger (Apple / Spotify)

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Boiling weeds, eating animal feed: People in Gaza stave off hunger any way they can

Fatma Tanis — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 05:01:15 -0400

Palestinians in Gaza tell NPR they've resorted to boiling weeds in seawater, eating animal feed and grinding date pits. "If the bombs don't kill us, the hunger will," a teenage girl says.

People in Gaza are starving to death. 5 things to know about efforts to feed them

Aya Batrawy — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 05:02:00 -0400

Family clans in Gaza are being called on to help distribute aid to a starving population. Here's why it matters and how it could shape postwar security.

(Image credit: Mohammed Abed)

Why there's a storm brewing about global food aid from the U.S.

Dan Charles — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:07:37 -0500

The act of providing food aid to countries in need turns out to be a complicated and controversial matter. Here's why.

How $6 billion from Elon Musk could feed millions on the brink of famine

Joanne Lu — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 11:56:08 -0500

Elon Musk reportedly made $36 billion in a single day. What if he gave a sixth of that to the World Food Programme? We ask researchers how much of a change $6 billion could bring.

Food Aid To Puerto Rico Is Salty, Sugary, And Unbalanced, Researcher Says

Sara Kiley Watson — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 09:00:18 -0400

A professor of public health found boxes filled with sugary or high-sodium snacks was sent to people in need of meals after Hurricane Maria, and says food aid needs to be more nutritious.

(Image credit: Mario Tama)

What's The Difference Between Famine And Hunger? A Food FAQ

Vicky Hallett — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:25:00 -0400

We asked our readers what they wanted to know about world hunger? So many thoughtful questions came in that we did a roundup of queries about hunger and famine.

U.S. To Ship Peanuts To Feed Haitian Kids; Aid Groups Say 'This Is Wrong'

Clare Leschin-Hoar — Thu, 05 May 2016 11:15:00 -0400

On paper, the USDA's plan to send surplus peanuts to feed 140,000 malnourished Haitian schoolchildren sounds heroic. But aid groups say it could devastate Haiti's peanut farmers.

Food Aid To Starving Syrian Refugees Is At Risk

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 04:59:00 -0500

The World Food Program, which had been feeding 1.7 million Syrian refugees in five countries, is suspending its aid for lack of funds. WFP Regional Emergency Coordinator Muhannad Hadi explains.

Philippines Disaster Rekindles Fight Over Food Aid Rules

Dan Charles — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:59:00 -0500

The Philippine disaster is an example why it increasingly makes sense to buy food close to where its needed rather than ship it across the globe. Most U.S. food aid, though, travels to hotspots from U.S. ports. Critics say that wastes time and money.

(Image credit: Chris McGrath)