It seems every year we hear about American grain surpluses and the intentional destruction of good grain. It is, however, a myth that our excess grains are being destroyed. Yet it is true that we can, and must, do more to ensure that the world's food, including our own surpluses, is more effectively distributed to those who need it most.
Most countries are, in fact, capable of producing enough food to feed their citizens.
Often, however, either for political reasons or poverty, this food fails to reach their citizens in need. For such countries, our foreign policy must focus on strengthening these countries politically and economically. There is a clear role for humanitarian distribution of U.S. grain surpluses. But we must be careful about dumping excessive, highly subsidized U.S. grain into a developing market, for this can destroy the agricultural infrastructure of that nation. It can also make developing nations overly dependent on U.S. growers for food, rather than promoting their own food self-sufficiency.