It is no longer breaking news that we are in the midst of a growing food security emergency. Every major newspaper, TV, or radio news program is reporting on the global crisis due to skyrocketing food prices. Millions of the poorest among us in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are unable to afford the most basic staples. In the last 12 months alone, prices have increased by more than 50 percent. For many, this crisis means hunger, deprivation, and making hard choices.

To combat the effects of the food security emergency, the U.S. government has pledged more than $5 billion through 2009 to benefit countries hit hard by rising prices and decreased agricultural production. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States' primary development assistance agency, is employing a bold strategy to implement and invest in programs that increase food supplies, make markets work for the poor, and reduce the risk of poverty. Partnerships with the private sector are essential to implementing this strategy. USAID, through partnerships, is effectively leveraging investments, sharing risks, and creating sustainable solutions that will provide affordable food for all.

In this month's Opportunity Window, I encourage you to read about how public-private partnerships address food security challenges. Working in areas ranging from agricultural sector productivity to nutrition, companies such as Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-bred, Kemseed, Cargill, and Olam International are providing reliable access to markets and agricultural inputs while building farmer capacity. Access to food is crucial to the health and well-being of those USAID serves. Each one of us needs to be part of the solution to provide that access.

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