Brazil and USA discuss food security

Representative of the U.S. State Department visits Brasilia to
see Brazilian programs to fight hunger

Jonathan Shrier visits public schoool in the Federal District

Photo: USAID/Isadora Ferreira

On October 25 to 27, the Acting Deputy Coordinator for Diplomacy for Feed the Future, Jonathan Shrier, was in Brasilia to discuss ways of cooperation with Brazil in actions to fight hunger in the world. Mr. Shrier held meetings with representatives of several successful initiatives to combat hunger in Brazil, aiming to learn more about these programs to deepen the existing partnership between the two countries, developed by USAID in the area of food security.

The United States, through USAID, is working with Brazil on actions to improve agricultural techniques, distribution of agricultural products and school feeding in third countries. "We already have a strong foundation for cooperation between the two governments with the experience of helping fight hunger in Mozambique, Haiti, and Honduras," said Mr. Shrier.

In Brasilia, Mr. Shrier had the opportunity to talk to Minister Milton Rondo, coordinator of International Actions to Combat Hunger in the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Fernando Abreu, director of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, which is the partner of USAID in the trilateral cooperation program. He also met with Mauricio Lopes, president of the Brazilian Company for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA), and Albaneide Peixinho, coordinator of the National School Feeding Program in the Ministry of Education, which are involved in the trilateral actions as well.

On Friday, the 26th, Mr. Shrier visited a public school in the Federal District, to see firsthand the school feeding program developed by states and municipalities, with support from the federal government. Besides representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Department of Education of the Federal District, he met with representatives of small-scale farmers who provide at least 30% of the food used in the preparation of school meals pupils.

Jonathan Shrier also met with Daniel Balaban, Director of the World Food Program, Maya Takagi, secretary of the National Food and Nutrition Security of the Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger, and Dr. Maria Emilia Pacheco, chairman of the National Security Council Food and Nutrition.