U.S. further funds food system

Reuters – The Biden administration will spend more than US$2.1 billion in funding to shore up weaknesses in the country’s food supply system exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement earlier this month. Worker illness and other disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and log-jams in the food supply chain, and Russia’s invasion has led to higher prices for agricultural inputs and food products, indications that the U.S. food economy needs to be made more robust, Vilsack told Reuters. 

The investments, drawn from the American Rescue Plan Act and other relief legislation, will include US$900 million for food processing workforce training and supply chain infrastructure, US$550 million for small food businesses and reducing food waste, US$375 million for organic and urban agriculture projects, and US$370 million to boost public access to healthy food.

Vilsack said USDA will work with Congress to secure longer-term funding for new and expanded programs via the upcoming Farm Bill and the next appropriations process.

Hearings for the 2023 Farm Bill are already underway and negotiations will likely begin in earnest next session, policy advocates told Reuters.