Each year, American farmers help feed many millions of hungry people in nearly 100 nations. Even so, there were more than 800,000 people, or nearly 10% of the world’s population, who were chronically undernourished in 2016. More than 3.1 million children die each year from malnutrition, while many others suffer the effects of permanently-impaired physical and cognitive problems that result from growing up without enough to eat. Many hungry people live in countries with high levels of debt, few exports and little ability to help their citizens. The most dire nations facing extreme hunger are Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Yemen. However, East Timor, Madagascar, Mozambique, Liberia, Haiti and Sierra Leone are also countries that struggle to feed their citizens.

The conflict in Ukraine has greatly added to global hunger with local, national, and global supply chains being disrupted and leading to increased food prices. The war has sparked what is considered the 3rd global food price crisis in 15 years affecting the entire world but causing the most severe challenges for poorer nations. Approximately 22 million tons of grain are now stranded in Ukraine waiting safe export.

Pending Legislation: S.436 - SAFE Act
Sponsor: Sen. James Risch (ID)
Status: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Chair: Sen. Ben Cardin (MD)