The US Department of Agriculture will provide $466.5 million to strengthen global food security through its two premiere international development programs. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the agency will provide $248 million to the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, and USDA will provide $218.5 million to help seven countries through the Food for Progress program. Under both programs, USDA purchases U.S.-grown commodities and provides them to implementing organizations, including the United Nations World Food Program. Food for Progress implementing partners sell the commodities locally and use the proceeds to support local development projects. This year, USDA will provide more than 37,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities to support projects in many countries, including El Salvador, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. That will benefit 1.2 million children and their family members in 2,800 pre-primary and primary schools. Food for Progress will utilize 315,000 metric tons of American commodities to benefit almost 200,000 farmers.