MACI Programs and Projects
U.S. Seafood Products Awareness and Marketing – Seven Fellows from the Republic of Georgia participated in a two-week study tour that showcased the U.S. seafood industry from harvest to table. The delegation visited seafood ports and processing facilities in Astoria OR, New Port WA, and Juneau AK. Meetings with companies, government agencies and private associations dealing with seafood were held in Portland, Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and Juneau. Seafood distribution centers, marketing agencies, exporters and retailers were also highlighted. The program was led by MACI members Jim Jost and Duane Hauck.
Keeping Imports Fresh Through Better Grocery Store Management – Eight Fellows from China participated in a two-week study tour on Grocery Store Management. The delegation participated in cold chain, food safety and product quality seminars along with tours of farms, food retail, food companies and food warehouse distribution locations. The program took place in ND, MN and Wash State and was led by MACI members Jim Jost and Duane Hauck.
Program on Trade Policy and Consumer Advocacy – Five Philippine Ag journalist participated in a two-week study tour to learn about consumer advocacy and public relations strategies for cooperator and trade groups, consumer protection laws, and the role of the media in consumer advocacy. The delegation participated in NDSU seminars and meeting with local commodity, media and farm groups in Fargo. They also met with national agencies and Ag policy organization in Washington, DC. MACI members, Hauck and Jost, hosted the program.
Program on Barley, Hops and Malt – Eight Fellows from three Central American Countries (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama) participated in a two-week program to improve the Fellows overall knowledge of U.S. craft beer brewing and ingredients. The Fellows learned about barley, wheat, and hops production in the U.S. and how quality and flavor are affected by differences in varieties. They also learned about current trends and made useful contacts for future business interactions.
Extrusion Techniques for Snack Food and Feed Processing Sectors – A two week study tour in North Dakota and Minnesota was organized for a Nigerian Delegation. The focus was on expanding their snack food and feed procession sectors. Visits to farms, processors, retailers and food companies were arranged.
Agricultural Credit for Small Holders – Agricultural finance was the featured topic for a delegation from Albania. Visits about financing programs and processes were arranged with farmers, bankers, co-ops, machinery dealers and other ag businesses. The NDSU Agri Business and Applied Economics Department also conducted in-depth ag finance workshops for the group. A special feature included a visit to the “Big Iron” farm machinery show in West Fargo and interaction with the North Dakota Trade Office.
Organic Agriculture Promotion and Marketing for Serbia – Organic Agriculture production, processing, marketing and promotion was the focus of a two week study tour for 6 Serbian Fellows. The organic industries in North Dakota and Minnesota were featured. The group visited farms, processing facilities, food co-ops, retail outlets and many other organic related businesses.
U.S. Bakery Ingredients for Myanmar – Bakery representatives from Myanmar learned about U.S. bakery ingredients and characteristics, trends in pastry, breads and cakes in the U.S, techniques in processing, packaging and grading of bakery ingredients, food safety, shelf life and product freshness. During the two-week program, the group attended a bakery expo in New Orleans, visited farms in Minnesota and visited bakeries, equipment and ingredient suppliers in Fargo, ND, Minneapolis, MN, and Philadelphia, PA.
US Hardwood and Softwood Quality Grade and Application – Seven fellows from India toured timber stands, saw mills, lumber yards and furniture manufactures in North and South Carolina. Highlights included attending the International Furniture Show in High Point, NC and touring the Charleston Shipping Port. They also attended excellent workshops conducted by the NC Extension Service and the US Hardwood Association.
Beef and Dairy Tour for Belarus – A 10 person delegation visited North Dakota dairy farms, ranches, feedlots, processing facilities and Ag Expos in December 2017. The objective was to gain information about North Dakota Beef and Dairy Management with a special emphasis on winter management strategies. The tour was sponsored by the Mogilev branch of Belarusian Chamber of Commerce. This was the second Belarusian delegation, hosted by MACI, to visit North Dakota in 2017.
Beef Management and Meat Processing Tour for Belarus – A Belarusian delegation visited North Dakota in June 2017 in order to gain information on improving their beef cattle and meat processing industries. Dairy is a major industry in Belarus while their beef cattle industry is in the early development phase. The tour was sponsored by the Mogilev branch of Belarusian Chamber of Commerce who is interested in an on-going collaboration with North Dakota.
Port Inspection, Legislation and Regulatory Implementation – This was the second program conducted in 2017 designed to educate China Inspection and Quarantine Service officials on how U.S. inspection and food safety laws/regulations are created, monitored and enforced on a national and port level. The first four days were spent in Washington DC meeting with various federal agencies, commodity and export associations and touring the Baltimore Sea Port. The second part of the training was spent in the Kansas City area meeting with commodity organizations and touring farms. The program concluded in the Pacific Northwest touring fruit farms, a hop farm, craft brewery, marketing organizations and grain export facilities.
Port Inspection, Legislation and Regulatory Implementation – The objective of this two week program was to educate the China Inspection and Quarantine Service (CIQ) officials from Guangdong Province, on how U.S. inspection and food safety laws/regulations are created, monitored and enforced on a national and port level. The first couple of days were spent in Washington DC meeting with various federal agencies. On the third day we toured the Omega Protein Corporation Fish Meal Plant in Reedville, VA. The groups also met with several grain associations, toured a wholesale produce market and spent a day in Philadelphia on a tour organized by the Philadelphia Port Authority. The second week was spent in Minneapolis meeting with state agencies to show how regulations and inspections are conducted at the state level and how they use and partner with federal authorities. They also visited farms, bakeries, food retailers along with the Cargill Livestock Feed Innovation Center, Cargill Food Innovation Center and the Land o’Lakes R-tech laboratory. The program concluded with a visit to Port of Duluth-Superior where they met with the Port Authority, FGIS and Wisconsin Grain Inspection representatives.
Food Safety and Regulatory Systems – Seven Fellows participated in this two week program designed to help Paraguay align with the World Health Organization and US efforts to create awareness of the challenges that foodborne diseases present. The first week included three days in Washington DC meeting with USDA and other federal agencies that deal with food safety and two days in the Minneapolis MN area meeting with state food safety officials and touring Ag industries. The second week was spent in the Fargo ND area where the fellows attended foods safety seminars conducted by NDSU scientists and participated in foods safety related tours at food retail and Ag industry establishments. A high-lite included attending “tailgating” activities prior to an NDSU football game.
Farm Tour for Australian Farmers – A three day farm and Ag industry tour was organized for 26 Australian farm couples. The program including touring several John Deere industries along with NDSU Agriculture research facilities. A high-lite included visiting several large farms along with a dinner event at the Black Leg Ranch near McKenzie ND.
Requirements for Determining Product of Origin – Six Fellows from El Salvador and Honduras participated in a one-week program focused on the requirements necessary for establishing product origin for purposes of tariff preferences under the CAFTA agreement. The entire program was conducted in Washington DC. Meetings were arranged with the various USDA agencies that deal with Export and CAFTA activities. Custom and Border Patrol officials provided key information regarding customs inspections and record keeping. The goal was to help US exports enter CAFTA-DR countries more efficiently.
U.S. Organized Retail and E-Retail – A program to study retail food management and food marketing utilizing e-commerce was conducted for eleven fellows, mostly Food Executives, from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The program included attending the FMI Connect Food Show in Chicago, technical lectures by university professors and food store visits in three cities in the USA. Over 15 stores, including large box retailers, co-ops, convenience stores, high end grocers and average food markets, were included with guided tours at most of them. The program also included classroom instruction emphasizing the principles of food management and food safety in cold storage and food preparation. The training also included speakers on labeling, importing, exporting, country regulations, tariffs, and processors of farm products along with a visit to an organic vegetable farm that markets product directly to consumers. A specific session on e-commerce was also included.
Cooperative Development Project, Republic of Georgia – This USDA—FAS—Cochran funded project was aimed at providing a broad experience with the formation, development and operation of farmer owned cooperatives and supporting organizations. The program focused on three key factors, successful cooperatives must: 1. Fulfill real economic needs of the members, 2. Operate as an efficient and effective business; and 3. Be comprised of involved active and informed members, directors and hired management. In order to achieve these goals, meetings were conducted with government agencies, farm member associations, and successful cooperatives in the Washington DC. , Minneapolis and Fargo areas. The presented photo was taken at a consumer cooperative which handled organic food produced by farmer owned cooperative.
Cochran Program for Kosovo on Agricultural Extension – Eight fellows from Kosovo, plus 2 interpreters, participated in a two week training that focused on the development of an Agricultural Extension Service. The training included an in-depth overview of the organizational structure and design of the U.S. Extension Service at the Federal, State and County level. Staff Development, program design, implementation and evaluation were all part of the training. Meetings were also held with various extension partners along with visits to farms, ranches and other extension clientele groups. The training took place in Washington, DC and North Dakota.
Cochran Program for Bosnia on Agricultural Extension – This two week program provided training for five Bosnian Fellows, plus interpreter, on the organizational design, function, staff development and program implementation of an Agricultural Extension Service. The program included an in-depth review of the Cooperative Extension System organization at the Federal, State and County level. Issues identification, staff development and program implementation were all part of the training. Visits with Extension partners and clientele were included. The training took place in Washington, DC and North Dakota.
Cochran Program for Kyrgyzstan: Cotton & Sugar Beet Production, Processing, and Marketing –
A two week program was held to provide information to six individuals representing Private and Cooperative Farm managers and Sales Managers in Kyrgyzstan. The program goal was to improve their knowledge of the U.S. sugar beet and cotton industry. Topics covered included plant breeding, seed production, planting thru harvesting, processing and national and international marketing of the final products. University and private industry lectures, farm tours, seed processing and the final harvested product processing tours were part of the program. The program took place in Fargo and Wahpeton, North Dakota, Moorhead and Gary, Minnesota, and Corpus Christi, Victoria, Odem and Houston, Texas.
Cochran Program for Armenia HACCP Audit and Certification – This two week program helped five Armenian Fellows better understand U.S. food safety laws and regulations and enforcement mechanisms. University lecture, HACCP Certification training, restaurant inspections, food processing tours and HACCP plan reviews were part of the program. The program took place in Washington DC, Bismarck, Jamestown, and Fargo, ND.
Sugar Beet and Potato Tour – A three day tour showcasing the Sugar Beet and Potato Industries was organized for a South Dakota farm tour group. Farm visits, processing plant tours and related equipment manufacturing tours were included in the program. A visit to Bonanzaville, the Fargo Air Museum, a NDSU Bar-B-Q Boot-camp and a Red Hawks Game were all included in the program.
Wheat, Barley and Canola Tour for Australian Farmers – Twenty six Australians, mostly farm couples, toured the U.S. Three days of their tour were spent in ND where MACI arranged visits to large wheat, barley and canola farms. A hi-light was the dialogue with the individual farmers at each location. With the tour sponsored by John Deere (JD), visits to the JD Seeding Group in Valley City and a large JD Dealership were also included.
Cochran Program for Montenegro Management of Agricultural Land – Management of U.S. agricultural lands was the focus of this two week program for three Fellows from Montenegro. Topics included best practices for land management, land use policy and regulation, types and varieties of farms, government programs related to land management, soil classification and small farm development. The training took place throughout ND and included a special session at the ND Governor’s farm.
Cochran Program for Chile – US Meat Export Policy and Trade – This two week program helped four Fellows from Chile learn about U.S. meat policy and trade and the U.S. beef industry. Training sessions addressed meat production, meat grading and handling, meat laws and labeling and meat merchandising. University lecture, hands-on meat lab training, ranch visits, industry tours and commodity organization meetings were include. Training sites included NDSU, ND ranches and processors, and the US Meat Export Federation in Denver, CO.