U.S. Agricultural Trade and Food Safety
OVERVIEW
From July 20-24, 2024, we hosted a group of international participants to explore the intersection of U.S. policies on international trade, sustainable agriculture, and consumer health and safety. The program provided an in-depth look at how U.S. farmers and ranchers navigate the complex challenges of producing affordable, high-quality, and safe food for both domestic markets and international exports. Participants examined the political, social, and environmental factors shaping U.S. agricultural trade policies and discussed how federal, regional, and local initiatives in agricultural research, inspection, and resource conservation help maintain competitiveness and ensure food safety in the global marketplace.
PARTICIPANTS
Mr. Andreas PFALLER | Austria
Head of Plant Production, Market Policy Division, Austrian Chamber of Agriculture
Mr. Preslav BORISSOV | Bulgaria
Managing Director and Co-Owner, Depas Agro Ltd
Mr. Jakub FISNAR | Czech Republic
Administrative Officer, Food Safety Department, Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Mr. Lins HEIVERS | European Union
Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Lead, Belgian Council Presidency in 2024, Government of Flanders
Mr. Kennedy Ouma OTIENO | Kenya
Co-founder and Head of Strategy and Partnerships, KENFARM ATC
Mr. Faisal ALRASHIDI | Kuwait
Director, Shuwaikh Port’s Food Imports Department, Public Authority for Food and Nutrition
Mr. Tolulope Oluwarotimi WILLIAMS | Nigeria
CEO, Keresuk Rice Farms
Ms. Dorota Joanna BIALCZAK | Poland
Department Head, International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Dr. Radu Gheorghe ANTOHE | Romania
Associate Professor, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, School of Agribusiness and Environmental Economics
Mr. Miroslav ALEKSIC | Serbia
Member of Parliament, Head of the People’s Party Parliamentary Group, National Assembly
Ms. Yelin WONG | Singapore
Director, Risk Management and Surveillance Department, Singapore Food Agency
Mr. Jose Antonio SOBRINO MATE | Spain
Deputy Director General for Agricultural Inputs and Spanish Plant Variety Office, Ministry of Agriculture
Dr. JuanJuan SUN | China
Associate Professor, Hebei Agricultural University
Ms. Darine DOUGUI | Tunisia
Chief Engineer and Director of Research, Ministry of Trade
ACTIVITIES
This multi-region project of experts from government, academia, and the private sector met with a diverse slate of professional peers. At the LSU Agricultural Center’s H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Rayne, LA, Dr. Adam Famoso, head rice breeder, discussed initiatives to enhance Louisiana rice varieties to compete with the quality, flavor, and cost of imported rice. The delegation then visited Cajun Acres Hydroponic Greenhouse, a local supplier of greens, herbs, and lettuce to the Lafayette area. Founder Camille Schuneman showcased hydroponic growing techniques and farming without pesticides and other common chemicals.
In New Orleans, the group met Danielle Coco, Marketing & Communications Director for the Southern US Trade Association (SUSTA). This organization collaborates with small businesses to co-fund overseas marketing and promotional efforts, fostering export markets for U.S. agricultural products. The group also toured the USDA Southern Regional Research Center, where Director Deepak Bhatnagar provided an overview of the center’s broad research activities. Discussions followed with project leaders in the food sensory lab, cotton fiber utilization, sugarcane utilization, and food safety. The program concluded with a visit to VEGGI Farmers Cooperative in New Orleans East, a collective of local farmers and fishermen from the Vietnamese community dedicated to supplying high-quality local produce and seafood to the Greater New Orleans area.