U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Seed Trade Capacity Program (2019-2024)

The Seed Trade Capacity Building program, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aims to develop the seed sector building institutional capacity for research, innovation, and new seed technologies; promoting and enabling policy environments for seed trade; and facilitating cooperation and partnerships with the private sector in the Mekong Region.
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Mekong-U.S. Partnership Pathfinder Health Program (2022-Present)

A non-traditional security focused flagship initiative, the Pathfinder Health Program helps Mekong sub-regional health authorities identify and respond to future emerging infectious diseases.  After working with U.S. government experts to develop action plans, Pathfinder fellows will receive funds for pilot research programs to help communities prevent disease emergence and spread.  The Pathfinder program complements long-standing…
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Mekong Regional Seed Program Resumes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with American Seed Trade and Asia and Pacific Seed Associations, held the Lower Mekong Regional Seed Workshop, June 8-10, 2021. The “Strengthening Sustainable Seed System for the Lower Mekong Countries” workshop was conducted by the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) with technical expertise from USDA Agriculture Marketing Service. Over 70 high-ranking country representatives from the Public Seed Offices of, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia along with senior representatives from international seed organizations including OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), ISTA (International Seed Testing Association), and UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants) participated. Key representatives provided updates on progress and challenges in seed trade in their countries focusing on capacities, and rules-and science-based policy environments with aim to foster cooperation and harmonization of seed policies among Lower Mekong Countries (LMCs), consistent with practices and approaches in the United States.
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