Twenty-Five Year Review of Public Law 480 and Other U.S. Food Aid Programs, Fiscal Years 1955-79

This report reviews the changes which have occurred in Public Law (P.L.) 480 programs, commodities and recipients over the 1955-79 period. The goals of P.L. 480 shifted from disposing of U.S. surpluses to encouraging economic development and combating hunger. P.L. 480 exports peaked in 1965. Developing countries took over three-fourths of all P.L. 480 exports--consisting mainly of grains. As recipient countries increased their economic growth and foreign exchange earnings, they generally increased their commercial purchases of U.S. farm products and terminated or reduced their reliance on food aid. Demand for food aid in the poorest countries is to continue likely in the near future.