For seventy years, the Food for Peace program has carried American-grown food to people facing hunger around the world, reaching more than 4 billion people in 150 countries. What is less widely known is who carries it: American ships, crewed by American mariners.
The maritime connection
Under the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, at least half of all U.S. food aid must travel on U.S.-flagged commercial vessels. That single requirement links three American strengths into one supply chain: farmers in the heartland grow the food, U.S.-flag ships carry it from ports like Houston, New Orleans, and Norfolk, and communities in crisis receive it. In 2022 alone, the program delivered nearly 4 billion pounds of American-grown food to roughly 58 million people.
For the U.S. Merchant Marine, this cargo is more than goodwill. Government-impelled cargo like food aid helps sustain the U.S.-flag international fleet and the mariner jobs that come with it, capacity the nation depends on for sealift in any emergency.
Where TI stands
When legislation was introduced in Congress to transfer administration of Food for Peace to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aligning it with other USDA food assistance programs like Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole, Transportation Institute joined maritime partners across the industry in support. As Senator Jerry Moran put it, moving the program closer to the producers who grow the crops can reduce waste and keep this market open to American farmers. Food stability is political stability, and American ships are proud to be the bridge between the two.
TI’s position is simple: however the program is administered, American food aid should keep flowing, keep sailing on American ships, and keep employing American mariners.
Read gCaptain’s coverage: https://gcaptain.com/bill-aiming-to-anchor-food-for-peace-in-the-usda-receives-maritime-industry-support/