Marine Science Affairs 



tribution on credit of fishing boats and gear, and construction of fish landing 

 facilities, ice plants, and processing facilities. 



In 1967 the United States embarked on a new Food-from-the-Sea program 

 with initial objectives projected over a five-year period as shown in Figure 

 III. 3 to: 



— develop commercial processes for producing FPC ; ^ 



— -improve the fish catching, landing, and processing capabilities of 

 three protein-deficient countries; 



— develop markets for FPC in at least one protein-deficient country; 



— establish a viable commercial FPC system in at least one protein- 

 deficient country; 



— encourage other nations and private interests to establish commercial 

 fishing industries in the developing countries. 

 In carrying out the responsibility as assigned last year as lead agency for 

 the program, AID has established a Food-from-the-Sea Service in its Office 

 of the War on Hunger, and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries is accelerat- 

 ing necessary technological development. 



Spearheading this drive to exploit fish resources as a major low-cost item 

 of high protein nourishment for large masses of people are the accelerated 

 efforts of the United States in the development of FPC. Two approaches are 

 involved: assistance to developing countries in exploring possibilities for 

 indigenous FPC production, and the use of FPC produced in the United 

 States in world-wide food aid programs. 



Preliminary surveys of the opportunities for developing FPC capabilities 

 have been conducted in a number of Latin American, Asian, and African 

 nations. As a result of these surveys, Chile has been selected for more inten- 

 sive study to determine whether and in what manner FPC-fortified foods 

 can be marketed commercially. It is anticipated that a country will also soon 

 be selected in Africa and in Asia for similar studies designed to stimulate the 

 market for FPC. These studies will employ modern marketing techniques 

 and will be carried out under contract with private industry. The feasibility 

 studies should provide the basis for determining the potential of FPC, and 

 it is anticipated that the United States will encourage the establishment of an 

 FPC demonstration plant in at least one of these countries as the next step. 

 The studies will also furnish the data and incentives necessary for large-scale 

 investment in FPC industries by the private sector. 



During FY 1968, AID plans to purchase about $1 million of domes- 



' Whole hake and shnilar abundant sp>ecies can be converted into a nutritious and 

 wholesome protein concentrate (FPC) that is tasteless and odorless. FPC is bacterio- 

 logically and biochemically safe and stable without refrigeration or other special 

 process. Its protein is easily digestible. It can be easily stored and transported and 

 can be readily added to a variety of foods commercially consumed in the developing 

 nations. Ten grams will provide adequate animal protein to meet the daily require- 

 ments of one child, at an estimated daily cost of less than one cent. 



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