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McKinney discusses first Emerging Markets Program trade mission

The CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) says a recent mission to Vietnam provided an opportunity to highlight U.S. agriculture and build trading relationships.

Ted McKinney describes the trip through the USDA Emerging Markets Program as a trade and policy mission.

“There is a trade aspect where we kick the tires and talk with buyers and sellers of product with an emphasis on buyers. But we also want to dedicate a greater portion than what might be the norm to talking about policy. What are issues that we can help them with? We want to be a two-way street. And then we’ll also talk about ways they can help us,” he says. “It gets into the nuances of trade that go beyond selling more. It’s regulations at the port and potential issues that might involve weed seed. This was a case that occurred for a period of time with Vietnam that seems to be resolved. How can the U.S. make sure we’re that choice and preferred supplier of whatever product or commodity it might be. The difference being it is emerging markets, exclusively, and it involves trade and policy and I would say this one was a successful trip beyond any expectation we might have had.”

He tells Brownfield about some of the opportunities in Vietnam.

“If there is one thing that is on the increase, needed in great quantities, providing opportunities for great growth it would clearly be in the feed category for both food animals and companion animals or pets,” he says. “We also talked to the leader of the largest supermarket chain in Vietnam and in many countries in southeast Asia. I had met with their General Manager on a previous trip in my previous service at USDA and it was great to see him, and their growth and love U.S. products. It was truly a farm or pre-farm all the way to fork type of visit. For the four members of NASDA that went and our special guest, my friend Constance Cullman who leads the American Feed Industry Association, we got to speak with those driving a lot of this growth in Vietnam.”

McKinney says state agriculture directors, secretaries, and commissioners are uniquely positioned promote U.S. agriculture.

“We can talk about the value of technologies, we can speak to trade barriers both ways. We are the ones closest to that farm, closest to that food processor,” he says. “So, we can bring alive these problems and opportunities and maybe do that a little bit more firsthand than the federal government.”

Other NASDA members participating in the trade mission included NASDA President and Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Doug Miyamoto, Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scouse, and Texas Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Dan Hunter.

The trade mission took place Jan. 9-13.

NASDA was awarded $925,000 from the USDA to promote U.S. agricultural exports to developing countries with strong growth potential, including Vietnam.

“We believe that agriculture and the U.S. needs to do a whole lot more,” he says. “Though we’re happy with how we produce food and we’re very proud as farmers and processors, there are people who disagree with how we view agriculture and production. We have to defend that because there are some people who want to dismantle that. That’s part of the reason why we’re chasing these (trade missions) so aggressively.”

The organization will also conduct trade missions to Thailand, Indonesia, and Kenya this year. Part of the Emerging Markets program, involves hosting delegates from other countries in the U.S. McKinney says planning is still underway, but there are hopes that could happen this year.

Audio: Ted McKinney