Check a selection of GFSI's recent news, events, webinars, press features, and an archive of our bimonthly funding opportunities newsletter: The GFSI's Grants Dispatch.
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Info and event recording
Our speaker, Obai Khalifa oversees the foundation’s agricultural development work in Africa. Obai was previously a senior program officer on the Agricultural Development program’s Livestock team, where he worked on private-sector engagement, downstream delivery of livestock inputs in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and the foundation’s strategy for helping pastoralist livestock farmers increase their production and for strengthening markets for their products.
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Info and event recording
Jim Suits is the Senior Advisor for Program Operations in USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). In his role, he supports USDA’s trade capacity-building programs by advising on and enabling best practices of project management for a programming portfolio of over $1 billion per year, including streamlining procedures, and figuring out how best to employ a variety of instruments to fulfill a constantly-shifting mandate. He previously worked as a front-line project manager on various initiatives relating to agricultural statistics, and monitoring and evaluating program activities in emerging market countries.
His talk provided a comprehensive overview of U.S. agricultural trade strategies, challenges, and opportunities, focusing on global market access, sustainability, and innovation in agricultural exports. Key topics and messages included:
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Role of Specialty Crops and Packaging Innovation:
- Specialty crops face unique export challenges, including niche market demands and regulatory complexities.
- Research is ongoing to develop sustainable packaging that meets environmental standards without compromising product integrity.
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International Collaboration:
- Capacity-building programs in developing countries, such as training on sustainable farming and food safety, enhance agricultural practices globally.
- Collaboration with universities and international researchers fosters knowledge exchange and innovation.
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Technological and Scientific Advancements:
- Biotechnology is emphasized as a solution for reducing inputs like water, pesticides, and fertilizers while enhancing yields.
- Efforts are ongoing to establish internationally recognized maximum residue levels (MRLs) for chemicals in specialty crops.
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Emerging Challenges:
- Issues like African swine fever pose significant threats to U.S. agriculture, with containment efforts being a priority.
- The demand for eco-friendly solutions, such as compostable stickers on produce, requires innovative research.
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Grant Opportunities and Industry Participation:
- The USDA and related agencies offer numerous grant programs for trade and agricultural development, encouraging more applications to maximize program impact.
- Universities and cooperatives play a vital role in leveraging these programs.
Watch the recording here
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GFSI GRANTS DISPATCH ARCHIVE - Check our previous funding opportunities here:
GRANTS DISPATCH: OCTOBER 2024
GRANTS DISPATCH: AUGUST 2024
GRANTS DISPATCH: JUNE 2024
GRANTS DISPATCH: FEBRUARY 2024
GRANTS DISPATCH: NOVEMBER 2023
GRANTS DISPATCH: SEPTEMBER 2023