2. Ending Hunger Through Agricultural Production
A. Greater International Involvement
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) implements many of the food aid programs carried out by the U.S. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman (2002) maintains that U.S. policy with respect to world hunger and malnutrition in developing nations aims ôto boost agricultural productivity in the developing world, end famine and alleviate severe vitamin and mineral deficienciesö (1). Over the past decade USAID has worked diligently to achieve these aims in the way of financial, agricultural, technical, and nutritional aid to developing countries. Many developing countries around the world experience famine and severe deficiency of micronutrients because of lack of agricultural production and know-how and/or the economic means of achieving sustainable levels of production to offset these conditions.
The World Summit carried out under U.S. leadership in 1997 in order to help alleviate famine and malnutrition in developing nations. At the World Summit it was estimated that more than 800 million people worldwide are seriously malnourished (World, 2002, 1). At the time of the World Summit the U.S. made a proposal to join other nations to meet Millennium Development poverty reduction and food security goals. The food security goals covered the issues of food access, availability, and use: 1) increasing agricultural productivity, 2) ending famine, and 3) improving nutrition (World, 2002, 1). We will now look at some international efforts and specific programs in line with USAID aims and World Food Summit goals.
The World Food Summit in cooperation with USAID and other nations carries out a host of activities and programs in order to achieve its goals. One method of doing so involves U.S. economic aid for agricu
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