The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $745,000 to a hemp association to support efforts to promote the industry internationally in emerging markets across the world.
The National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) announced on Friday that it secured the funding under USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), which is meant to bolster global exports of agricultural commodities.
“We extend our gratitude to the USDA for recognizing the vital role of industrial hemp in global export markets,” NIHC President and CEO Patrick Atagi said. “This funding is crucial for advancing the industry through NIHC’s efforts to promote U.S. hemp as a safe, high-quality and sustainable commodity used in various products, from clothing to building materials to fuels.”
USDA said the program “aims to diversify and expand market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products beyond the traditional top customers” like Canada, Mexico, the European Union and China.
“Instead, RAPP will focus on enhancing U.S. exports to new markets in parts of the world—including South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa—where the middle class is growing and the desire for high-quality food and farm products is increasing,” the department said. “Gaining market share in these
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