USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

FAS China welcomed 30-person+ Business Development Mission to Beijing and Shanghai last week from the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Former Agriculture Deputy Secretary and current President and CEO of USDEC, Krysta Harden led the mission that consisted of farmer leaders and 16 American companies. The delegation received a warm welcome from partners, buyers, and the local industry. FAS China and USDEC worked together to arrange meetings with key buyers and government officials, and two full days of successful business-to-business meetings with more than 40 qualified Chinese companies. FAS continues to link U.S. agriculture to the world! 🌎🥛 #AgExports #trade #AmericanDairy

Did you know that women are responsible for roughly half of the world’s food production? 🌎🌾 All eyes are on the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 👩🌾 as USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres-Small and Under Secretary Alexis Taylor championed the initiative at last week's launch event. Alongside the United Nations, this U.S. sponsored resolution gives the global community a chance to highlight and celebrate the vital role women play in ensuring global food security. Presenting an unprecedented opportunity to underscore and address the myriad social and economic challenges that women in agriculture face worldwide, the #IYWF2026 launch event kicked off efforts alongside more than 1,000 guests ready to answer the Call to Action. 📣 Read more about the event and #IYWF2026 from the Deputy Secretary and the Under Secretary here: https://lnkd.in/enGRtrpf

Happy #pride month! 🌈 We are proud of all farmers, diplomats, and producers alike in America and around the world! The heart of agriculture lies in the hard of work of farmers and producers, regardless of their identity. What unites all farmers is their pride in agriculture, their love for their land, and their dedication to their agribusinesses. At the recent Native Nations Agribusiness Trade Mission, we met Tara Gomez, an LGBTQ, Indigenous woman ag exporter. 🌱 You can read her inspiring story here: https://lnkd.in/eedScaXZ

The first USDA trade mission dedicated to Indigenous products is underway in Vancouver, Canada! “This historic trade mission showcasing products from Tribal and Native Hawaiian producers is long overdue, and Canada couldn’t be a better host country,” Under Secretary Taylor said. “Indigenous nations on both sides of the border share strong historical connections to their lands, trading networks and agricultural practices. I am proud to represent USDA at this turning point. We have a unique opportunity to be the change we want to see in our industry, and build on the incredible legacy of stewardship, innovation and productivity. “USDA continues to seek opportunities to support Tribal and Native Hawaiian priorities, including the restoration of vital trading networks for their agricultural resources. International relationships are an excellent tool for strengthening agricultural communities and businesses at home. When businesses export, they can grow their income and benefit the people and communities around them – a key component of the Biden-Harris administration’s dedication to strengthening American agriculture across the country and around the world.” #IndigenousAg #AgTradeMission #FoodSovereignty #trade #exports Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eKm8TfRY and https://lnkd.in/edd4ykVm

Canada is in the top 3 export markets for American agriculture. Next week, USDA is leading its first-ever trade mission focused on Tribal and Native Hawaiian ag products. The Canadian market offers opportunities for food and beverage producers to highlight important production attributes unique to their products. Consumers in Canada increasingly demand more transparency about the origin of food and beverages in their diets and the production practices used to grow and manufacture them. In conjunction with growing awareness about sustainability, Canadian consumption patterns are also trending toward healthier foods. There is also an increasing demand for diverse flavors from a range of cuisines. This combination of factors, along with geographic proximity, provides opportunities for imported specialty products from the United States and makes Canada an excellent market for new-to-export and smaller companies seeking to grow their businesses. This is one of the reasons why USDA has targeted Canada as the prime growth market for Indigenous ag products. #AgTradeMission #IndigenousAg #FoodSovereignty #SupportIndigenous #exports #trade https://lnkd.in/eqVY6CxU

Did you know, U.S. dairy and beef cattle well-being is achieved through industry-led animal welfare programs that guide producers towards continuous improvement using science-based practices and welfare standards. This ensures humane treatment of cattle throughout the supply chain while producing high-quality beef and dairy products for consumers around the world. Family farms make up 98 percent of all farms in the United States, and U.S. ranchers and dairy farmers take pride in caring for their animals and giving them the highest quality of life. DelicioUS! food brings people together. Learn more about where and how U.S. food and agricultural products are produced and enjoyed across the globe at https://delicious-usa.com/. Learn more about U.S. ranchers and dairy farmers at https://lnkd.in/eETj6Gux. #DeliciousFoodUSA #usda #agriculture #exports #trade #ranchers

Huge welcome to the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development at Texas A&M University and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) #CochranFellows to St. Louis! Our guests, including nine Fellows from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. They had an action-packed day visiting companies and organizations, learning about biotech and regulatory information around gene editing, and exploring the #39North Agtech Innovation District. Thanks for adding STL to your trip!   Also, huge shoutout and thank you to the local organizations and companies who showcased just some of the incredible advancements in biotech happening here in STL, and making the effort to increase connectivity across geographies. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center CoverCress Inc. CTC - Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira, Plastomics, Inc. Aferna Bio BioHeuris   Thank you to everyone who made this event a success! #CultivarSTL #39North #AgTech #STLMade

We are extremely honored to be featuring our Minnesota Grown Wild Rice and Wild Rice products such as our Wild Rice Pancake Mix and Wild Rice Flour at the upcoming first ever USDA Indigenous Focuses Trade Mission in Vancouver. Miigwech (“thank you”) USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) for creating opportunities for Indigenous producers to bring their products to global markets.

We recently had the honor of hosting the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Gilman Program Scholars. The Scholars were in Washington, D.C., for two days to learn about global food security. Part of their time was spent with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service learning about the agency's leading efforts to help developing countries improve their agricultural systems and build their trade capacity. FAS also administers food assistance programs to ensure long-term global security. 🌎 🥘 🍲 🥪 Learn more about FAS's work supporting global food security at https://lnkd.in/egGcTW9x. Learn more about the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program at gilmanscholarship.org. #GilmanScholarship #ExchangeOurWorld #USFutureLeaders #ExchangeAlumni #usda #foodsecurity #trade #exports

🌎 For #WorldEnvironmentDay, we've reached into the USDA Blog archive to share a fascinating story on how USDA Science is helping solve a sticky situation for composters, U.S. exporters, and the environment. We see them every time we purchase fresh fruits and vegetables: price look up (PLU) labels. The little coin-size stickers are stuck to everything from apples, bananas, and cantaloupes to watermelons, yams, and zucchini. According to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, PLU labels have been used globally for more than 30 years with the International Federation for Produce Standards issuing more than 1,400 PLU codes. PLU labels offer many benefits to the agriculture, trade, and retail industries. The labels lower costs and optimize handling by digitizing supply chain management, minimizing packaging, and reducing time at the point of purchase – something we can all appreciate when rushing through the self-checkout lane. When it comes to agricultural trade, PLU codes also help exporters and importers consistently and quickly identify and track products across the globe. Whether you purchase a Red Delicious apple in the United States, Mexico, or Vietnam, the PLU code is the same. Unfortunately, PLU labels have also created a sticky situation for composters, the environment, and even U.S. exporters. Why? PLU labels are not biodegradable, which means they contaminate produce that’s tossed in the compost pile or sent to commercial composting facilities. As a result, the produce generally ends up in landfills, which creates more food waste, increases methane emissions, and negatively affects climate change. Continue reading at https://lnkd.in/ef48YCna. #environment #agriculture #trade #exports #usda #sustainability