USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is seeking stakeholder input regarding implementation of a $50-million pilot project to include non-traditional, shelf-stable U.S.-grown commodities in the U.S. government’s international food assistance programs. A Request for Information was published in the Federal Register today, at https://lnkd.in/e9ZdmgQC. Comments are due to FAS by Fri., Aug. 23. https://lnkd.in/ea_QVJ4e

Agriculture and farming in America and around the world will always count on women! The #WomenInAg Cochran Fellows from India are making a big impact in their communities and across their nation. Led by The Ohio State University, this cutting-edge Fellowship is wrapping up its program specifically dedicated to advancing the knowledge and reach of women agricultural entrepreneurs, so they can be leaders in promoting women’s social and economic empowerment in farming and agribusiness! The Fellowship introduced these nine female Fellows to U.S. food ingredients and processing systems, including value-added processing technologies, post-harvest technology, product development, sensory evaluation techniques, food packaging, processing and nutritional quality, functional foods, nutraceuticals, and value-added entrepreneurship. The Fellows also attended the Institute of Food Technologist (IFT) Annual Event and Expo in Chicago, as well as met with the Food and Drug Administration, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and the American Farm Bureau in Washington, D.C. Yesterday, USDA Under Secretary Alexis Taylor met and connected with the Fellows, hearing their first-hand experiences about how this Fellowship will shape the future of their businesses at home and abroad. The women's professional opportunities have already grown since they became Fellows! They discussed with Under Secretary Taylor what it means to be a female ag leader in India. The Women in Ag Fellows plan on using their expertise from the Fellowship to lift up other women. To learn more about USDA initiatives to empower women farmers and women in agriculture, or discover how to get involved, visit: https://www.usda.gov/iywf #WomenInAg #IYWF2026 #InternationalYearOfTheWomanFarmer

The United States has six new Agricultural Attachés! These diplomats are joining the ranks of dedicated Americans serving abroad as the voice and frontline advocates for U.S. agriculture and ag producers 🌱 around the world. 🌎 The new Foreign Service Officers will be stationed at U.S. embassies and diplomatic missions on three continents, beginning their overseas careers monitoring agricultural production and trade, identifying export opportunities, enhancing food security, supporting U.S. foreign policy objectives, and more. Read more about the new Agricultural Officers and the U.S. Foreign Service here: https://lnkd.in/eNbzkWyZ

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