Tyson, Mountaire, USAPEEC taking part in trade mission

Representatives from Tyson Foods, Mountaire Farms and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) are taking part in a trade mission to sub-Saharan Africa. The trip is to begin on November 16 and will conclude on November 20.
USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will lead the mission in an effort to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products in that market.
“Sub-Saharan Africa's strong economic outlook, growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods creates a promising market for U.S. food and agricultural products," Harden stated in a press release. "Over the past decade, U.S. agricultural exports to this region increased by more than 50 percent, totaling $2.3 billion in 2014."
Also taking part in the trade mission will be leaders from five state departments of agriculture, and representatives from 23 other agribusinesses and organizations.
The delegation will meet with potential customers from more than a dozen countries across sub-Saharan Africa, forging relationships and learning about the market conditions and business environment in the region. This first-hand intelligence will help them develop strategies to start or expand sales to these key markets.
Top sub-Saharan Africa markets for U.S. agricultural and related products last year included Nigeria ($847 million), Angola ($298 million) South Africa ($259 million), Ghana ($129 million), Kenya ($69 million) and Ethiopia ($83 million).

Russia, Brazil eager for mutual poultry, pork trade

Officials from Brazil and Russia expressed a mutual desire to pursue mutual trade opportunities for meat and poultry products during a recent meeting.
According to Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance, Sergey Dankvert, head of Rosselkhoznadzor, and Tatiana Palmero, secretary for Agribusiness International Relations, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, took part in negotiations on September 15 to discuss mutual supplies of animal products.
In particular, it was noted that Russian producers are interested in the export of poultry meat, pork and beef to Brazil, and that it was ready to receive Brazilian inspectors for inspection of the Russian establishments intending to export their products to Brazil.
Russia has been looking at Brazil as a potential market for meat and poultry trade since 2014, when the country implemented trade bans on products from the U.S., Canada, European Union, Australia and Norway for political reasons. The ban was renewed in August 2015.

Trade of fish and casings progressing

It was also discussed that progress was being made in ensuring the safety of Russian fish products exported to the Brazilian food market. As a result, Brazilian experts will inspect Russian establishments interested in exporting such products to Brazil through October 4.
It was also agreed between the two countries that expert consultations would take place to finalize the protocol on ensuring the safety of Brazilian casings imported to Russia.

Dr. Rosales participates in International Conference on AI and poultry trade

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the (USDA/APHIS) and the U.S. poultry industry have invited Doctors Gregorio (Greg) Rosales and Eric Jensen to participate in an International Conference on Avian Influenza and Poultry Trade, today through Wednesday in Baltimore, MD. The goal of this invitation-only conference is to develop recommendations to diminish the risk of avian influenza (AI) infection during the trading of poultry and poultry products.
Conference sessions include presentations and discussions on:


• Risk factors for introduction and spread of AI
• Effective and feasible AI detection, response and control plans
• Strategies to minimize trade impacts related to detection of the AI virus in commercial and non-commercial birds or in limited regional areas 
Dr. Rosales will also serve as moderator of a 90-minute panel discussion at the conference with Chief Veterinary Officers (CVO) from Mexico, Canada and the U.S.A. summary and recommendations resulting from the conference will supplement existing international standards and will be shared with meeting participants, international stakeholders and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Dr. Rosales was chosen to moderate this panel based on his knowledge and expertise in the poultry primary breeding industry.
“The poultry industry is well-positioned to supply a growing global human population with a high-quality and affordable source of protein,” says Dr. Rosales. “Prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza along with sound zoning and compartmentalization procedures to facilitate trade will be crucial to the industry’s future success.”
Dr. Rosales was born and raised on a broiler farm near Mexico City. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he also served as Associate Professor and Head of Poultry Diagnostic Services at the College of Veterinary Medicine. He also has a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Before joining Ross Breeders, now Aviagen Incorporated, in 1991, he worked as Director of Technical Services for Indian River International in Nacogdoches, TX.
He is widely published, authoring and co-authoring numerous reports, articles and chapters on topics ranging from avian diseases to biosecurity and disease prevention.