Tied Food Aid: America's Style of Giving

I was raised to believe that charity is a selfless act. Charity is something that is done for the benefit of others without looking for any benefit for one’s self. When Americans hear about the amount of money the United States gives to feed hungry people around the world, they are gravely misled. “Tied food aid” is a term that most of us are not familiar with but this is the type of food aid given in our name.

Former President Bush said that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come. America indeed allots the largest sum of money for food aid. The US is now projected to spend nearly $5 billion in 2008 and 2009 to fight global hunger. The problem with this figure is it does not disclose how much of that whopping sum will actually materialize as food.

Giving tied food aid means that the US gives with stipulations. Those stipulations are designed to reinvest a portion of the money allotted for food aid in the US. Europe’s aid is untied. Canada’s aid is untied. America is the only major donor still engaging in this senseless practice.

When America gives, it gives to itself first. Instead of buying food for hungry Asians in Asia, America buys food for hungry Asians in America. America pays American companies to process, pack and ship that food.

On first glance, some people may support this idea. People may argue that at least food aid supports American businesses and creates jobs. On second glance, when you really think about it, supporting American business should not be the priority of charity. Christopher Barrett researched and calculated that Americans pay $2 for every $1 worth of food aid.

Not only does the US dissolve a huge chunk of its donations, Sophia Murphy, senior advisor of Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, said that food aid that originates in the US can take months to reach populations in crisis.

In a society that is always talking up cost efficiency and ethics, does tied food aid really make sense?

If you don’t think so either... and you want express your opinion... do it.

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