 |
USDA Invests More Than $200 Million to Expand Agricultural Exports Through Market Development ProgramsFunding Awarded to More Than 60 U.S. Agricultural Organizations to Help Producers Promote Their Products Across the Globe Contact: FAS Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is awarding $202.7 million to more than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand export markets for U.S. farm and food products through the Market Access Program, also known as MAP, and the Foreign Market Development, or FMD Program. “In this unique public-private partnership, USDA and the American agricultural industry are working together to expand markets for high-quality, American-made farm and food products worldwide,” said FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley. “With industry matching funds, federal investments in these market development programs not only increase agricultural export revenue and volume, but also improve farm income and strengthen the U.S. economy.” Under the MAP, FAS is providing $175.6 million in initial fiscal year 2023 funding to 67 nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. These organizations will use the funds to support U.S. producers with marketing and promotion activities around the globe, including market research, technical assistance, and support for participation in trade fairs and exhibits. The average MAP participant provides more than $2.50 in contributions for every $1 in federal funding it receives through the program. Through the FMD Program, FAS is allocating $27.1 million in initial fiscal year 2023 funding to 20 trade organizations that represent U.S. agricultural producers. The program focuses on generic promotion of U.S. commodities, rather than consumer–oriented promotion of branded products. Preference is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope. The organizations, which contribute on average nearly $2.50 for every $1 in federal funding they receive through the program, will conduct activities that help maintain or increase demand for U.S. agricultural commodities overseas. “FAS works hard every day to expand international markets for U.S. farm and food products, to break down trade barriers, and to assist America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers with the resources they need to reach consumers around the world,” added Whitley. “U.S. agricultural exports reached a record-high $196.4 billion in fiscal year 2022, supporting an estimated 1.2 million jobs.” Whitley attributed this export success to USDA’s MAP and FMD programs, which he said are instrumental in helping agricultural organizations, representing thousands of producers and businesses, open and grow markets for American products and expand global food and nutrition security. In addition, a recent study, conducted by IHS Markit in cooperation with Dr. Gary Williams and Dr. Oral Capps at Texas A&M University, found that foreign market development investment through the MAP and FMD programs contributes $45 billion annually in economic output and $22.3 billion annually in gross domestic product, creating U.S. jobs and increasing farm cash receipts. A list of fiscal year 2023 MAP funding recipients is available on the FY 2023 MAP Funding Allocations page. More information about the program can be found on the Market Access Program (MAP) page. The FMD Funding Allocations - FY 2023 page contains a list of the FMD funding recipients for FY 2023. The Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) page contains more information about the FMD program. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production; fairer markets for all producers; ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities; building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices; making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America; and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. ### USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. |
The following GAIN reports were released on December 15, 2022.
_______
Australia: Biofuels Annual
Ethanol consumption in Australia is forecast to remain stable in 2022 at only 1.1 percent of the gasoline pool, and biodiesel is forecast to increase moderately from very low levels but remain at less than 0.1 percent of the total diesel pool. Australia has very large feedstock (grains and molasses) supplies for bioethanol as well as robust supplies of feedstock (canola, tallow and used cooked oil) for biodiesel production. However, only a very small amount of these are used for domestic biofuels production. There is no federal government subsidy, tax credit or mandate supporting the production or use of biofuels. Only two states have biofuel programs with ethanol and biodiesel mandates, but these mandates are far from being reached.
European Union: Draft Commission Delegated Regulation Implementing Article 118 of the EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation Available for Feedback
The European Commission has published a draft of Article 118 of the EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation (EU) 2019/6, which extends the EU ban on the use of certain antimicrobials in animals and products of animal origin to imports into the Union. The Delegated Regulation for Article 118 missed the January 28, 2022 implementing deadline of the Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation, but the draft act has now been made available for public feedback for four weeks through January 3, 2023. The draft act also indicates that a notification was sent to the WTO.
European Union: EU Commission Publishes Communication on the Availability and Affordability of Fertilizers
On November 9, 2022, the European Commission published a Communication on the availability and affordability of fertilizers to propose solutions to the important increase in prices that EU farmers are facing. The Communication was met with heavy criticism by European farmers who expected more impactful solutions.
Honduras: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
In 2022 Honduras has made no modifications or changes to its existing regulatory framework. As of October 2022, Honduras had more than 52,000 hectares (ha) of genetically engineered (GE) Corn production, a 37 percent increase from calendar 2021. Five crop event approvals were reported during 2022: three banana products were approved for field testing, and two additional products (a banana product and a mustard green product) were approved for commercialization after it was determined it shoud fall under Honduras's simplified approval process for certain products of genome editing. Of three applications for field testing of GE bananas submitted in calendar year 2021 to the National Committee on Biotechnology and Biosecurity (NCBB), two have already been approved.
Hong Kong: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
In the past year, Hong Kong did not have any policy changes to regulations pertaining to genetically engineered (GE) products, while monitoring the development of synthetic biology. Hong Kong does not maintain specific regulations for GE products, which are subject to the same food regulations of conventional foods. However, Hong Kong does maintain production and import controls on living modified organisms. Hong Kong does not impose barriers on microbial biotech ingredients/foods. In 2021, Hong Kong launched its first vegan lab-developed ice cream, containing Perfect Day’s non-dairy protein derived from a GE microbe.
Hong Kong: Third Quarter 2022 US Agricultural Trade Data Highlights
From January – September 2022, U.S. agricultural and food exports to Hong Kong declined 16 percent to $1 billion compared to the same period last year. During this same period, Hong Kong’s ranking as a U.S. agricultural and food export market slid from 15th in 2021 to 25th in 2022. However, the city held its rank as the 7th largest export market for U.S. consumer-ready food products. Compared to imports from other suppliers such as Australia, Brazil and France, imports from the United States performed relatively better.
India: India Proposes Draft Regulations for Genetically Modified Food for a Second Time
On November 21, 2022, the Government of India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified its draft notification F.No. 1/Standards/GMO&F/Misc/FSSAI/
Indonesia: Indonesia Halal 20 Forum
The Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) held the Halal 20 (H20) Forum in Semarang, Indonesia in November 2022. The forum covered a wide range of halal related issues and representatives from foreign embassies and 99 foreign halal certifying agencies (HCAs) joined in the discussions. This report summarizes some of the key points of the event.
Japan: ATO Osaka Trade Show Year in Review 2022
This year ATO Osaka organized USA pavilions at three trade shows in Japan. In July, the ATO exhibited for the first time at FOODEX Kansai, the western Japan version of the USDA-endorsed show held in Tokyo every March. In August, the ATO returned to the Japan International Seafood Show for the first time in three years. In September, the ATO marked its fourth consecutive year exhibiting at FABEX Kansai, Western Japan’s largest food trade show. Across the three shows, ATO Osaka brought together 13 industry associations and 6 importers showcasing meat, seafood, fruit, vegetables, nuts, cheese, rice, sorghum, spirits, and processed products. Together the shows attracted 50,000 buyers.
Japan: Visitors Return Boosting Economic Activity for Restaurant and Hotel Industry
The return of international visitors to Japan has started to offer glimpses of positive economic activity among the hotel and restaurant industries. Hotels experienced guest stay increases of 32.5 percent year over year, to 42.1 million, up 5.8 percent compared to October 2019. October restaurant sales soared to nearly 15 percent year over year on an all-store basis, levels not seen since before the global pandemic. Japan’s reopening and travel promotion efforts have laid a strong foundation for economic recovery heading into the new year.
Kenya: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
On October 3, 2022, Kenya’s newly elected president, Dr. William Ruto, lifted the 10-year ban on importation and cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) agricultural products. This decision opens a path to importation of GE agricultural commodities and domestic production of GE crops in accordance with Kenya’s existing regulatory structure. However on November 28, 2022, Kenya’s Milimani High Court issued an order blocking implementation of the directive to lift the ban until December 15, 2022, as part of a legal challenge (Kenyan Peasants League vs State Law and Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries).
Romania: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report
Romania applies European Union (EU) regulations on imports of animal and non-animal products from the United States. The legislation on export certification is generally harmonized at the EU level. Romanian legislation applies to the minor categories on which requirements are not harmonized. This report should be read in conjunction with the EU FAIRS Export Certificate Report, as it provides comprehensive information about export certificates.
Romania: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report
As a European Union (EU) member since 2007, Romania observes the EU regulations and directives, which are applied directly or transposed through national level implementing regulations. This report updates the sections on labeling requirements, packaging related waste, taxation, and other requirements measures over last year’s Romania FAIRS Annual Country Report. This report should be read in conjunction with the EU FAIRS Report which details specific EU regulations.
Spain: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report
This report focuses on specific Spanish certification requirements that differ from or are in addition to EU-harmonized certification. Compared to 2021, this report contains new country-specific certificates as well as updated links to relevant information sources and contacts. This report should be read in conjunction with the EU FAIRS Export Certificate report prepared by the FAS Office in the U.S. Mission to the European Commission (USEU).
Taiwan: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
Since the previous report, Taiwan has granted new approvals for imports of genetically engineered (GE) products for processing, food, and feed use. Taiwan has never permitted domestic production of GE crops or animals. In 2021, Taiwan imported close to $1.2 billion of U.S. GE crops including soybeans, corn, and cotton, accounting for 30 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the island. Taiwan authorities are discussing how to manage innovative biotechnologies, but do not yet have a public draft or policy for the products of these technologies. Taiwan has made some progress on approving a few microbial biotechnology products, albeit with other requirements for labeling and maximum dietary intake.
Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly
Export prices decreased one percent despite the continued strengthening of the Thai baht.
Tunisia: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report
This report provides information on export certificates required by the Government of Tunisia. In 2022, the United States and Tunisia reached agreement on a health certificate to accompany exports of U.S.-origin bovine, caprine, and ovine embryos, as well as U.S.-origin caprine and ovine semen.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
