The Global Harvest Initiative has published its latest issue brief outlining ways to optimize and leverage development assistance programs to address global hunger and food security by sustainably increasing the rate of global agricultural productivity. According to the brief – increased collaboration and efficiency among these programs and the organizations that manage them would maximize benefits and help alleviate the growing challenges of hunger and food security.

In the brief – the Global Harvest Initiative urges that more emphasis be placed on approaches like the Millennium Challenge Corporation – an independent U.S. foreign aid agency that has been effective at addressing global hunger and other development initiatives by refusing to operate in areas where corruption is evident – and focusing on basic infrastructure to foster private sector-led economic growth.

U.S. government delivers 58-billion dollars in foreign assistance annually. Dr. William Lasher – Executive Director of the Global Harvest Initiative – says it’s crucial to leverage and streamline resources to increase the rate of agricultural productivity and meet the needs of a growing population. Dr. Margaret Zeigler – Deputy Director of the Congressional Hunger Center – a GHI Consultative Partner – says with one-sixth of the world’s population in dire need – the time to act is now.