It's a year since the United States promised to make hunger history with the passage of the U.S. Global Food Security Act.
The Act addresses global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.
But the Trump Administration wants to cut funding - what is its future and what progress has been made?
Kate Fisher reports from Washington
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The Global Food Security Act determined that it's in the U.S.'s national security interest to accelerate growth that reduces poverty, hunger and malnutrition. An Obama administration policy - but it received bipartisan support in congress.
Today former Republican Senator Richard Lugar and current Democratic Senator Bob Casey came together to celebrate the anniversary but with a warning for the future:
Former Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
"We must work together to redouble our efforts to address global hunger and its associated problems. It is vital to ensuring a safer, more stable and prosperous world for all of us."
Both lawmakers argued that this was an issue that should receive bipartisan support - despite the Trump Administration's proposed 30% cut to the International Affairs budget.
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)
"This is risky. It is short sighted and it is wrong and we have to prevent that from going into effect. Underfunding programs that fight hunger, build agricultural capacity and improve global health. Will impact not only our reputation around the world and our partnerships in the international community but that kind of a cut will have national security consequences."
Senator Casey singled out three African countries where the situation is particularly dire:
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)
"Whether it's Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia or Yemen. These countries or the crises in these countries represent an unprecedented risk to 20 million people. They are on the brink of famine. Worldwide we're told that 795million people still go to bed on an empty stomach every night. None of these famines are a natural phenomenon. They share three root causes: conflict, corruption and climate change"
Chief Scientist at the US Agency for Interntaional Development's Bureau for Food Security, Robert Bertram, says the Act is having a hugely positive impact but there's much more to be done
Robert Bertram, Chief Scientist, Bureau for Food Security, USAID
"Across the zones where we're working extreme poverty fell 19 per cent on average, stunting by 26%. This is unprecedented progress. It's faster than in other areas of those countries where we work. Despite the progress there is no room for complacency as we still have 3 million children dying from causes related to undernutrition."
But there's real concern that complacency could affect the Act's reauthoristation - due to happen next year - and what the impact will be of the Trump Administration's plans to cut vital funding.
Kate Fisher, Washington
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