IBD: 

In addition to the dependency it breeds and perpetuates, pouring food into Third World nations crowds out local farmers, many of whom are struggling and would benefit if they could sell their food to hungry neighbors.

After years of reflexively donating U.S. food for relief groups or governments to sell or give away, an administration is finally trying to move past the old thinking.

“I propose an innovative initiative to alleviate hunger under which America would purchase the crops of local farmers in Africa and elsewhere, rather than shipping in food from the developed world,” Bush said Tuesday in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

“This would help build up local agriculture and break the cycle of famine in the developing world. And I urge our United States Congress to support this initiative.”

After hearing Bush’s plan, South African U.N. Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo noted that it “is interesting, new stuff, a good idea because some countries can supply the food, and it will help their economies.”