Both organizations emphasized the importance of these funding decisions for American dairy producers. NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud noted that the USDA’s allocation reinforces demand for milk powders in lifesaving nutrition products, aligning with broader industry goals to support markets that utilise U.S. dairy ingredients. USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden echoed this, stressing that U.S. dairy supply chains play a crucial role in feeding those in need globally.

The statement comes amid a backdrop of shifting Food for Peace program implementation. In recent months, USDA assumed operational leadership of the program from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), unlocking substantial commodity purchase agreements — including roughly $452 million in U.S. agricultural goods destined for international food aid, which underpins the emphasis on high-quality, U.S.-origin products like milk powders for global food security.

For the international dairy community, this support signals a strategic intersection of trade, policy and humanitarian impact. Continued inclusion of RUSF funds not only bolsters export-linked demand for dairy ingredients but also strengthens the U.S. dairy sector’s visibility in global nutrition and food assistance frameworks — potentially expanding markets tied to developmental and emergency nutrition programs.