ESA Working Paper No. 05-05

Food Aid: A Primer

Sarah Lowder and Terri Raney

ABSTRACT

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Agricultural and Development Economics Division
The Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations

ABSTRACT

As an introduction to food aid this paper reviews various definitions of food aid and terminology used by practitioners and academics. It also briefly examines the size of food aid relative to Official Development Assistance, trade and food production in recipient countries and recognizes that in many instances food aid may play an important role in issues related to food security. Lastly, it summarizes actions taken by various international organizations to limit possible trade distortion resulting from food aid.

© FAO 2005