Teaching Them to Fish

A Virginia-based NGO hands out free wheat to poor countries, at a price: the businesses have to perform

David McNeese for TIME

Wheat from Keith Kisling's Oklahoma farm has gone to Indonesia as part of the IRD program.

Of the 4 million metric tons of wheat that the U.S. donates to struggling countries each year, a few thousand bushels come from Keith and Marlene Kisling's farm in Burlington, Okla. The Kislings grow more than 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) of hard red winter wheat, which is typically used in whole-wheat bread, cinnamon rolls and other doughy treats. "It's the best quality wheat in the world," says Keith Kisling.

The very same wheat is also the main ingredient in instant noodles produced nearly 10,000 miles (16,000 km) away in a factory in Central Java, Indonesia. Noodles aren't as important as rice...

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