American Soybean Association to receive $28.5 million in new USDA FAS Regional Agricultural Promotion Program funding

The American Soybean Association, ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council welcomed $28.5 million in funding announced May 21 as part of the initial $300 million tranche of the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.

This new source of funding will be invested to facilitate diversification and growth of U.S. soybean exports, help meet growing global protein demand, and address nutrition and food security.

“ASA commends USDA for its commitment to strengthening U.S. agricultural trade by providing Commodity Credit Corporation funds through RAPP to maintain and develop markets and address global food security,” said ASA President Josh Gackle, a soybean grower from North Dakota.

“We appreciate the work by Sens. Stabenow and Boozman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to initiate this much-needed program,” Gackle continued. “New international markets are critical to sustaining U.S. soybean growers’ success. This program will open new opportunities while improving upon the success of other programs vital to U.S. soy, like the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program.”

Lance Rezac, USSEC chair and Kansas farmer, added, “We applaud Secretary Vilsack and USDA FAS for the creation of RAPP, a critically important and timely program that builds upon decades of success achieved with the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development Program and most recently the Agricultural Trade Promotions Program. Current examples of innovative USSEC programs aimed at diversifying markets and growing exports include the Soy Excellence Center and the Right to Protein campaign. The USSEC team is excited to build on these successes and bring to life the creative program concepts included in our RAPP funding proposal.”

WISHH Chair Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare said, “Trade-promotion programs are vital to soy growers. Utilizing MAP, FMD and ATP funds, WISHH has successfully leveraged those dollars to increase market access, address technical barriers to entry, and create on-the-ground capacity and demand for U.S. soy. Through RAPP, WISHH looks to expand the Training Program for Young Professionals, a hands-on capacity-building program for youth and young professionals, in addition to expanding the program and scope in Ghana and Nigeria. We will also invest in expanding U.S. soy’s presence in Central Asia and throughout sub-Saharan Africa. WISHH looks forward to the new opportunities this funding will create for ASA’s WISHH to invest in developing and emerging markets and appreciate the support of USDA FAS and Secretary Vilsack.”