WHEAT IS FOR LIFE
There are very good reasons why, for thousands of years, civilization has relied on wheat as the staff of life. The benefits go beyond wheat’s calorie and energy contributions, and even beyond wheat as a primary source of fiber. The phytochemicals in wheat provide health benefits that are absolutely essential to productive life.
Throughout the years, and across the continents, people have developed hundreds of wheat foods, from breads and noodles and couscous, to porridge, pasta and tortillas. And just as there are different wheat foods, there are different wheat classes and characteristics that are appropriate for those foods.
Even the different types of bread use different classes of wheat. Providing the right wheat to make culturally appropriate foods is -- or should be -- a major consideration in food aid donations.
FY 2009 and 2010 Priority Countries
In order to provide betting long-term planning by USDA and applicants, USDA announced priority countries for FY 2009 and FY 2010 at the 2008 USDA and USAID International Food Aid Conference. Countries with less activity were put on the 2009 list and those that received funding in FY 2007 and FY 2008 were moved to FY 2010.
FY 2009 priority countries for Food for Progress include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Philippines, Senegal, Uganda and Yemen. FY 2010 include Afganistan, Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger and Tanzania. Countries on the FY 2010 are subject to change.
USDA is now accepting Food for Progress proposals for fiscal year 2009 and Food for Education programs for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. The deadline for submission is August 1, 2008 and awards are expected to be announced in December 2008.
FY 2008 Program Awards
The following countries and cooperating sponsors have been approved by USDA for fiscal year 2008:
Food for Progress:
Government of Afghanistan
United Methodist Committee on Relief in Armenia
Project Concern International in Bolivia and Nicaragua
ACDI/VOCA in Ethiopia
Texas A&M University in Guatemala
TechnoServe in Honduras
Mercy Corps/Visions in Action in Liberia
Mercy Corps/Cooperative Housing Foundation in Mongolia
Land O'Lakes in Mozambique
International Relief and Development in Niger
Coutnerpart International in Senegal
Partners in Development in Tanzania
Food for Education programs using wheat:
World Food Program in Bangladesh
Food Aid Fact Sheet
Please refer to the fact sheet below for information on food aid programs and the U.S. wheat industry's positions on food aid issues.
Free assistance on food aid specifications:
NGOs and others are encouraged to contact Rebecca Bratter at rebecca_bratter@ushweat.org when they consider wheat in their food aid projects.
Requests for letter of support:
NGOs and PVOs submitting proposals for food aid that include wheat in their development projects may request a letter of support from U.S. Wheat Associates. Please fill out the following form or contact Liz Jayankura-Jones at ljayankura@uswheat.org.
U.S. government sources of information and assistance:
USAID Food for Peace
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Food Aid Programs
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Food Aid Reports