WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $8.5 million to help six organizations develop food aid products under the Micronutrient-Fortified Food Aid Products Pilot Program.

The program is funded by the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, and the recipients of the money will focus their efforts during the next three years in Cambodia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Mozambique and Tanzania.

“These grants will fund the development of new food aid products that are tailored to the nutritional needs of a specific population,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Our efforts to support global food security are important to the many people around the world who do not have access to nutritious and safe food. Fresh approaches to food assistance are also critically important to the sustainable economic growth of these nations and the economic prosperity and national security of our own country.”

With the pilot program, the participants will develop and field test food aid products for women, infants and children. The products are enhanced with vitamins and minerals and are developed in the U.S. using domestically grown commodities. The USDA hopes to identify new, more effective products through the pilot program that will be distributed through the McGovern-Dole Program.

McGovern-Dole participants use or sell donated U.S. commodities in recipient countries to help support education, child development and food security.