The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $220 million investment for eight school feeding projects, expected to help more than a million children in 2,200 schools in food-insecure countries in Africa and East Asia.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack noted the funds will come from the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program from USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, the release reported.

"Through the McGovern-Dole Program, the United States is proud to be the largest global donor to school feeding efforts," Vilsack said in the release. "During the last two decades, the program has had a remarkable track record, benefitting more than 31 million children and families in 48 countries and providing more than 5.5 billion school meals."

The McGovern-Dole Program will mark its 20th anniversary in 2022, according to the news release. This award is a part of the $2 billion investment announced by President Joe Biden at the United Nations General Assembly to promote global food security.

“The need continues today, as the global challenges of war, pandemic and climate change contribute to rising food insecurity," Vilsack added, according to the news release.

To reduce food insecurity, improve nutrition for at-risk children and their families and help low-income, food-deficit countries establish successful and sustainable school meal programs, FAS collaborates with non-profit organizations, international organizations and host governments in developing countries through the McGovern-Dole Program, the news release reported.

The release said the awards include $23.7 million toward purchasing almost 13,000 tons of locally or regionally produced commodities, backing producers and supply chains in the countries targeted, improving the diversity in nutritional school meals and contributing to the long-term growth of the feeding programs.