In a keynote address at the annual World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green announced a call to action to combat the Fall Armyworm, a devastating crop pest that threatens to create a new humanitarian crisis in Africa.  He also announced new partnerships with several private sector companies to promote global food security.

Administrator Green called on the private sector, universities, foundations, international research centers, and other development partners to join together to combat the Fall Armyworm, an invasive pest that is spreading rapidly through Africa.  If not addressed, the Fall Armyworm has the potential to exacerbate food insecurity significantly in dozens of countries.  

The U.S. Government will mobilize investments from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to help control the pest.  To support this effort, USAID will also incentivize innovators to develop and adapt digital tools that provide timely information to farmers to identify, track, and access information on how to combat the pest.  USAID is eager to partner with other organizations in this effort.

Administrator Green also announced new innovative ventures with private enterprise to lift lives, lower poverty, and promote development by addressing market-access challenges faced by farmers in developing countries.  A partnership with the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, in collaboration with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, will help smallholder farmers in Senegal, Mali, Kenya, and Malawi gain access to affordable, high-yielding seeds through local businesses.  USAID's new collaboration with Keurig Green Mountain and Root Capital will strengthen the global coffee supply chain and help small-scale producers in Uganda, Rwanda, Colombia, Peru, and Indonesia grow higher-quality coffee and connect with financing and buyers.  

Led by USAID, Feed the Future is the U.S. Government's global hunger and food-security initiative. For more information and to join the call to action, visit www.feedthefuture.gov.