The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) Launches Crop Protection Action Coalition For Trade (CPACT) Website
February 28, 2022THE U.S. DRY BEAN COUNCIL (USDBC) LAUNCHES CROP PROTECTION ACTION COALITION FOR TRADE (CPACT) WEBSITE
February 25, 2022
Portland, Oregon
The U.S. Dry Bean Council launched the Crop Protection Action Coalition for Trade (CPACT) website, a new tool to track and inform about global activities related the promotion of harmonization and the use of sound science for global tolerances on pesticides and herbicides. CPACT was launched in 2021 and funded by USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service’s Market Access Program (MAP) to represent U.S. grower concerns and interests in bilateral dialogues, discussions, and negotiations to prevent low or zero tolerance Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) from disrupting global trade. “There are many new tools available to the agricultural export community to address the ongoing threat to trade from non-science based MRLs. We are grateful for this opportunity to add this critical piece and to do this in tandem with U.S. government efforts to create greater harmonization among trade partners,” noted Rebecca Bratter, USDBC Executive Director.
CPACT is a unique opportunity to raise these issues at the highest levels of both government and private sector gatherings. It also provides a chance to bring together like minded counterparts in several key global export markets such as Mexico, the EU, and Southeast Asian nations. While USDBC leads this effort, the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USDPLC) and USA Rice are strategic partners in this effort. USDBC looks forward to expanding the partnership to other commodity groups and sees CPACT as another critical tool in the toolbox of options to address this important issue. Bratter added, “we hope to bring other commodity groups into our coalition and complement the many other important MRL focused initiatives already underway.”
Clint Stoutenburg, USDBC Board President and a grower from Sandusky, Michigan emphasized that, “ It is critical for USDBC to be a leading voice in this type of initiative. U.S. growers and producers are the most responsible stewards of the land, land that we rely on to grow our U.S. food supply and provide high quality dry beans to the world.”
Information about CPACT can be found at https://cropprotectionact.org/
For additional information contact Rebecca Bratter.
The U.S. Dry Bean Council is the national global export development arm of the U.S. dry bean industry, representing the dealers, growers, and corporates with the exclusive aim of increasing the consumption of U.S. dry beans worldwide.