USDBC AWARDED TWO NEW GRANTS FOCUSED ON GLOBAL POLICY ISSUES

USDBC was awarded two new Global Broad-Based Initiative (GBI) grants from USDA/FAS. GBI grants are focused on cross-cutting policy issues that impact trade for a variety of agricultural commodities. USDBC will serve as the project lead and will work together with other commodity groups in the implementation. Raising Awareness of Pulse Nutrition will promote US dry beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas among public and private health institutions. This will be done through focused training on the nutritional benefits within health institutions and the manufacturing sector of the food industry in Latin America. It will also target consumers through social media to influence purchase decisions.

The Crop Protection Action Coalition for Trade (CPACT) will collaborate with USDA/FAS for a global capacity building program to harmonize international MRLs with Codex standards. Efforts will focus on support to FAS’s government to government capacity, building activities to ensure effective project implementation and outcomes that benefit U.S. agricultural exporters. This program will also conduct USDA Cooperator outreach, training, and advocacy programs to support and complement government to government capacity-building efforts. USDBC will be working together with other collaborators to get these initiatives up and running over the next month. Together the two awards add another $400,000 to USDBC’s global export development programs.