Increasing the Resilience of the Food Systems
In Islamic States in Face of Future Food Crises
65
and off-farm through a low-interest interest loan through the Farm Storage Facility Loan
Program. This program has provided over 33,000 loans since 2000, increasing capacity by 900
million bushels. 243
The USDA has established several regional hubs to support farmers in managing the effects of
climate change through technical support to help farmers manage droughts, floods, and other
adverse situations. 244 The USDA has also collaboratedwith Colorado State University todevelop
COMET-farm, a whole farm and ranch carbon and greenhouse gas accounting system to help
farmers improve their management practices.245
Adaptation: Social Safety Nets
The U.S. government provides direct financial support through nutritional assistance programs.
It directly funds 15 domestic food and nutrition programs targeting the most vulnerable
households. In the most recent FarmBill, passed in 2018, $867 billion was set aside to support
the food system. Of this sum, 77% ($663.8 billion) will be spent on nutrition programs to
support the most vulnerable in society.246
Table 35: U.S. Social Safety Net Programs247
Program Beneficiaries Description
Supplementary Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP)
Low-income households Monthly benefits to low-income
households to purchase food at authorized
retailers. $68 billion was spent in 2017,
benefitting 42.2 million people
National School Lunch
Program
Students from low-income
households aged 5-18
The program operates in over 100,000
schools, providing meals at low cost or free
Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children
Pregnant and post-partum
women; infants and
children below the age of 5
in low-income households
Vouchers issued to participants to acquire
food packages at authorized stores. Also
includes healthcare referrals and
nutritional education
Source: USDA
The government’s efforts are supplemented by a vast systemof food banks in the U.S. One of the
largest charities in the U.S., Feeding America, operates an extensive , nationwide networkof 200
food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs.248 The USDA seeks to support food
banks through The EmergencyAssistance Food Program (TEFAP), which purchases high-quality
243 USDA Farm Service Agency. (n.d.). Farm Storage Facility Loan Program. Retrieved from
244 USDA. (n.d.). Climate Solutions. Retrieved fro
245 COMET-Farmwebsite. USD
246 Congressional Budget Offfice. (2018, April 12). Congressional Budget Office Updates FarmBill Math. Retrieved from
247 Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, and Anita Singh. (2018). Household Food Security in the
United States in 2017, ERR-256.Economic Research Service. Retrieved from
248 Feeding America. (2018). Our Work. Retrieved fro