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George W Bush has offered $770m (£390m) in international food aid to help ease the effects of surging food prices that have sparked riots in some countries.
The US president said he was asking Congress to approve his request.
Soaring food and fuel prices have squeezed poor families at home and abroad, putting the White House under intense pressure to step in.
The move has been broadly welcomed, though critics point out the money will only be available from October.
That is because it is included in a funding measure that applies to the next fiscal year.
Critics also highlight what they say is the administration's contradictory policy of backing huge increases in the agricultural land devoted to biofuels.
