Idaho, Oregon, and Washington can now export wheat to Kenya
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced that, effective immediately, U.S. wheat may now be shipped to Kenya regardless of the state of origin or port of export.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced that, effective immediately, U.S. wheat may now be shipped to Kenya regardless of the state of origin or port of export. This important step will allow Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to be added to the list of states that can ship wheat to Kenya.
“American farmers in the Pacific Northwest now have full access to the Kenyan wheat market,” said Greg Ibach, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs. “This action proves our commitment to securing fair treatment and greater access for U.S. products in the global marketplace.”
For the past 12 years, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has worked with Kenyan officials to address plant health concerns that kept U.S. wheat exports from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington out of Kenya. The U.S.–Kenya Trade and Investment Working Group, established after an August 2018 White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, provided the forum for APHIS, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to resolve this longstanding issue with Kenya.
On January 28, 2020, Kenya’s national plant protection organization officially signed the Export Certification Protocol between Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service and APHIS/PPQ on Wheat Grain Consignments to Kenya for immediate implementation. The protocol gives U.S. exporters full access to Kenya’s wheat market, valued at nearly $500 million annually.
“Going forward, the USDA team looks forward to building on this success and further strengthening our relationship with Kenya as we pursue a new bilateral free trade agreement that will create additional market opportunities for U.S. producers and exporters,” said Ted McKinney, under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs.
More News
FDA amends its procedures for dairy, infant formula firms exporting to China
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing changes to its export listing procedures for dairy and infant formula firms seeking to export their products to China.
FDA gives $1.5 million to support FSMA education, training, and technical assistance
The FDA is announcing $1.5 million of continued funding, in the form of cooperative agreements, to the University of Arkansas Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative and the National Farmers Union to enhance food safety under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Call to action for stronger, better-funded federal nutrition research
According to a group of research, policy, and government experts, the United States needs to strengthen and increase funding for federal nutrition research and improve cross-governmental coordination in order to accelerate discoveries, grow the economy, and—most importantly—improve public health, food/nutrition security, and population resilience.
Report identifies 27 countries heading for COVID-19-driven food crises
New analysis by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Program (WFP) identifies 27 countries that are on the frontline of impending COVID-19-driven food crises, as the pandemic’s knock-on effects aggravate pre-existing drivers of hunger.
U.S. Dietary Guidelines Committee recommends lowering added sugar consumption
The 2020 DGAC revisited the topic of added sugars and concluded that a more appropriate target to help mitigate cardiovascular disease and obesity is to lower the number to 6% of energy from added sugars for the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Upcoming Events Listing
IFT Volunteer Section Meeting Flavor Creation by Mosaic Flavors
Nashville, Tennessee
South Eastern Section IFT Suppliers Night Expo
Atlanta, Georgia
Florida Section IFT Suppliers Night Expo
Orlando, Florida