Pioneering Export Markets with the Cochran Fellowship Program

It's been a busy fall for the FAS Cochran Fellowship Program. In September and October 2017, more than 200 Cochran Fellows from 32 countries traveled to the United States to enhance their knowledge and technical skills. The fellows, many of them agricultural professionals and government officials, worked with U.S. land-grant institutions and private companies at locations across the country, focusing on an array of topics including livestock genetics, grain management, food safety, biotechnology, marketing and logistics. Cochran Program training not only helps participating countries strengthen their own agricultural systems, but creates export opportunities for the United States by fostering relationships and educating foreign officials about U.S. agricultural systems and international trade standards.

Spotlight

China: Exploring E-Commerce Opportunities

The rapid rise of online retailers and other non-traditional marketing channels is providing opportunities for U.S. exporters to reach new consumers around the world. This is especially true in China, where price-competitive delivery services and new mobile purchasing apps are providing consumers more choices every day. Read more >>

Nigerian Women in Agriculture Delegation Seeks U.S. Trade Opportunities

Nine Cochran fellows from Nigeria visited the United States in September 2017, exploring new opportunities to increase trade with U.S. suppliers. The group of women agriculture entrepreneurs represented a diverse network of business interests ranging from horticultural producers to general importers. Read more>>

Pakistan: Modernizing the Local Dairy Industry

Dairy products are staple foods in Pakistan, and its manufacturing supports the livelihoods of millions of farmers in the country. The Cochran Program is partnering with Pakistani dairy leaders from private companies and the Pakistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) to lead the country’s efforts to modernize their industry and increase production and incomes for their growing population. This October, seven Pakistani Cochran fellows visited the United States to learn how U.S. dairy practices and technologies can be applied to Pakistan’s industry. Read more >>

Venezuela: Helping Dairy Farmers Improve Yields

A proven benefit of the Cochran Fellowship Program is the ability to link small and medium U.S. businesses with importers located off the beaten path. The 2017 Venezuelan Cochran delegation is a great example of this successful government and business collaboration. The group, made up of farmers from the Venezuela’s dairy industry, was eager to learn more about the opportunities that U.S. livestock technologies can bring to their businesses.  Read more >>

Serbia: Optimizing Cattle Production with High-Quality Genetics

Serbia’s dairy sector is transitioning as local producers face falling prices and less-than-optimal yields. Working with the Cochran Fellowship Program, a team of Serbian livestock specialists visited Kansas in Sept seeking opportunities to modernize production and adopt U.S. technologies and best practices. Read more >>

Thailand: Thai Biotech Team Studies Plant Variety Protection at Texas A&M

In USDA’s efforts to expand internationally accepted science-based trade policy, USDA is partnering with Thai officials to develop a trade-positive policy framework for genetically engineered crops. In September, seven Cochran fellows from the Thai Ministry of Agriculture visited Texas A&M University to study plant variety protection, intellectual property rights, and how to create regulations that are adaptable to rapidly changing technologies. Read more>> 

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