(NAFB) – The Department of Agriculture will invest $248 million in ten new school feeding projects expected to benefit more than a million children worldwide.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jewel Bronaugh announced the investment Thursday. USDA’s 2021 commitment, through the Foreign Agricultural Service’s McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, includes both direct financial support and the donation of U.S.-grown commodities to be used in school meals.

The ten new projects USDA is funding in 2021 are in addition to 40 projects already underway in 30 countries. Some of this year’s funding will go towards local procurement of agricultural commodities to supplement donated U.S. commodities, helping increase dietary diversity and build connections between project schools and local farmers.

Through the McGovern-Dole Program, FAS works with development organizations and governments in developing countries to reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education. Since the program was established in 2002, it’s helped 31 million children in 51 countries.