2022 International Promotion Funding Increases For The US Rice Industry

By Sarah Moran

USA Rice

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Agriculture/Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) recently announced the 2022 Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) allocations with USA Rice receiving more than $5.5 million, including a 35 percent increase in MAP funding from last year.

USA Rice utilizes a combination of state checkoff funds, industry dues, and federal funds to conduct marketing activities aimed at increasing the volume and value of all types and forms of U.S. rice exports in 21 overseas markets.

These MAP and FMD allocations are augmented by the $5.5 million USA Rice received from the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Program that covers activities from 2019-2023.

“As the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry, these additional funds help USA Rice promote the crop to overseas markets,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. “Given the myriad challenges the rice industry is facing, this boost in funding couldn’t come at a better time.”

USA Rice also receives funds on behalf of the U.S. wild rice associations, the California Wild Rice Advisory Board and the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council, to develop promotional activities for those products as well.

“These USDA/FAS funds have been vital in opening up new market segments and increasing sales for U.S. rice, from promoting U.S.-grown rice at Costco stores in Japan to organizing trade missions for importers from Latin America,” said Steve Vargas, senior vice president of global rice trading for Sun Valley Rice and chair of the USA Rice International Promotion Committee. “The overall increase in funding is a testament to the great work USA Rice does promoting U.S. rice in markets around the world.”