USDBC Awarded Global Broad-Based Initiative Grants

The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) was awarded two new Global Broad-Based Initiative (GBI) grants from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). GBI grants are focused on cross-cutting policy issues that impact trade for a variety of agricultural commodities. USDBC will serve as the project lead and will work together with other commodity groups in the implementation. 
 
Raising Awareness of Pulse Nutrition will promote U.S. dry beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas among public and private health institutions. This will be done through focused training on the nutritional benefits within health institutions and the manufacturing sector of the food industry in Latin America. It will also target consumers through social media to influence purchase decisions.The Crop Protection Action Coalition for Trade will collaborate with FAS for a global capacity building program to harmonize international MRLs with Codex standards.
 
USDBC will be working together with other collaborators to get these initiatives up and running over the next month. Together, the two awards add another $400,000 to USDBC’s global export development programs.