Real Solutions to World Hunger Act of 2002

H.R. 4815, the Real Solutions to World Hunger Act of 2002, proposed several restrictions and new funding mechanisms regarding the international distribution of genetically engineered (GE) organisms. The bill would have prohibited the export of GE animals, plants, or seeds to foreign countries if the products were denied U.S. approval or if the receiving country had not certified that ecological risks were addressed. Additionally, it sought to establish a "Sustainable Agriculture Trust Fund" financed by a one percent tax on the gross income of corporations that market or hold patents on genetically engineered organisms.

For citizens and the agricultural industry, this legislation would have shifted federal support toward non-GE sustainable farming techniques by providing grants to international research institutions for methods that minimize the use of artificial inputs. It also aimed to protect the sovereignty of developing nations by preventing U.S. representatives at international financial institutions from opposing laws that require the compulsory licensing of GE seeds and plants. Ultimately, the bill intended to regulate the global expansion of biotechnology while creating a dedicated revenue stream to promote traditional and ecological farming practices.