Today, Senator Reverend Warnock announced he secured millions in the annual government funding bill for MANA Nutrition Factory in Fitzgerald, Georgia

MANA employs dozens of South Georgia residents and relies on Georgia peanuts to create their Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)

Senator Reverend Warnock pressured House and Senate leadership to secure this funding to support South Georgia’s economy

MANA employs 120 South Georgia residents

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m thrilled to see these federal dollars go towards South Georgia manufacturing and peanut producers while fighting famine around the world“

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced he secured millions in the annual government funding bill for MANA Nutrition Factory in Fitzgerald, Georgia. The funding will go towards supporting Georgia jobs manufacturing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) which will be distributed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in some of the most famine-stricken parts of the world. RUTF is largely composed of peanuts, a major South Georgia commodity. The Senator successfully pressured House and Senate to include robust funding for RUTF to support Georgia jobs and address global famine. Additionally, the Senator advocated directly to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack for the immediate use of RUTF to address global hunger and joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) to push USAID to utilize RUTF to fight hunger in Gaza.

“Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food supports south Georgia peanut producers, creates good-paying Peach State jobs, and saves lives around the world,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I’m grateful to MANA for their mission-driven work and USAID for recognizing the value of investing in Georgia companies. I’m thrilled to see these federal dollars go towards South Georgia manufacturing and peanut producers while fighting famine around the world.” 

“Gone untreated severe hunger will hinder a child’s cognitive and physical development forever,” said USAID Administrator Power. “And for roughly 8,000 kids worldwide, every single day, it is a death sentence. But the RUTF being produced by MANA can save lives and prevent the long term developmental consequences. This funding will allow USAID to purchase many more of these life-saving products, and support the World Food Program and UNICEF to get them to millions of children around the world.”

On Friday, May 3, thanks to Senator Warnock’s leadership, during a visit to the MANA Nutrition Factory in Fitzgerald, Georgia, Administrator Samantha Power celebrated that USAID would commit $200 million in FY 2024 base Title II Food for Peace funds to maximize the procurement of domestic Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to prevent and treat global hunger in the areas most in need, including Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Haiti. According to USAID, the agency plans to distribute RUTF to countries around the world through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP).

RUTF is composed of paste, milk, and a special mix of vitamins and minerals. Georgia produces 53% of the country’s peanuts through 77 Georgia counties. MANA uses Georgia peanuts to produce its RUTF and save millions of lives globally. The Senator has worked closely with MANA and USAID to support Georgia peanut farmers, good-paying South Georgia RUTF manufacturing jobs, and fight famine worldwide.

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