Milling & Baking News - June 11, 2013 - 7

Editorial



No reason to change Title II that has worked so well

hen both t he liberal New York Times and of the People of the United States.” Bowing to
conservative Wall Street Journal give the revision promoted by the Food and Agriculeditorial support to a federal program ture Organization of the United Nations, aid prorevision put forward by the Obama administra- viders like the European Union changed to cash
tion, it might be expected that such a change de- gifts several years ago. The latter was a move that
serves speedy approval by Congress as well as the underscores one of the principal reasons for not
nation at large. That is doubly the case when it is modifying the program — that switching from
recognized that it was President George W. Bush food shipments to money is usually accompawho first broached the idea that now has received nied by a slash in aid budgets, which are easy to
the endorsement of his successor, Barack Obama. cut absent the backing of farmers and food proYet, those who look upon the proposed amend- cessors. In the case of the E.U., it has been estiment as ill-conceived and wrong-headed view mated that its food relief outlay has been slashed
their position as not just financially sound in a 50 per cent in the wake of implementing the
time of exceptionally tight budgeting, one of the food-for-money shift.
reasons cited by proponents. Even more important
As if that possibility isn’t reason enough to
to rejecting the proposed fundamental shift is how maintain a program that has worked well for
such action would deny the way
nearly sixty years, many other
For ﬂour milling, Title II
the program has worked well
factors come into play, including
stands as a program that
to attain its original goal— to
the realistic judgment that quesunderscores the industry’s
provide food to hungry people
tions changing something that
role as a supplier of essential
overseas while assuring strong
“isn’t broken.” Questions about
food.
support at home.
long lags in time between need
The amendment put forward by President and actual receipts are easily answered by records
Obama in his budget would change Title II of P.L. showing speed of delivery. That is especially the
480 (Agricultural Trade Development and Assis- case in light of recent U.S. government moves to
tance Act of 1954) to cut back the mandate that hold stocks of nutritious foods in strategic locafood aid must be 75 per cent processed in America tions to assure availability.
from U.S.-grown crops. Also set for change are
When Title II had its start during the Eisenhower
provisions requiring shipment on U.S.-flag ves- administration and in its early years, wheat flour
sels as well as more recent amendments allowing was the primary commodity shipped by the U.S.
donated commodities to be sold by recipient for- government to feed hungry people in many parts
eign aid agencies to raise cash for other projects. of the world. The quality of American-milled flour
Besides the White House, advocates of ending do- prompted enthusiastic praise from aid recipients,
nation of American food in favor of cash, includ- and the program resulted in the development of
ing debit cards, are a few relief agency executives specially designed foods meant to meet the eating
as well as spokesmen for some recipient countries preferences of recipients while making important
and food exporting nations that expect to benefit contributions to health. For flour milling, Title II
from providing the food that up to now has come stands as a program that underscores the indusfrom U.S. suppliers.
try’s role as a supplier of essential food. Even in a
One of the main arguments used by those in fa- time when Title II plays a minor role in demand for
vor of this change is that the United States is the flour, the industry should never hesitate to point
only provider of relief to hungry people that ac- with pride to the role it has played in making food
tually sends food, in bags with the legend, “Gift aid a success of American global food policy. MBN
MORTON SOSLAND, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
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Milling & Baking News - June 11, 2013

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