"Harnessing Technology for Safer Food Imports: Training and Certifying Global Producers for U.S. Market Access"

About This Grant

In 2023, the United States imported $732 million in food and agricultural products from Africa, a notable increase from $627 million in 2020 and $599 million in 2018. (Source: Congressional Research Service, African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), July 18, 2019; January 6, 2022; and July 17, 2024.) However, this growth in food imports has been accompanied by a troubling rise in FDA entry refusals. Between 2014 and 2024, across 27 African countries (including Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Congo, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Senegal, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), FDA refusals for imported food products surged from 337 in 2014 to 515 in 2023. Alarmingly, in just the first 11 months of 2024, refusals more than doubled to 1,008. (Source: FDA Refusal Reports, FDA Import Refusals.) These figures highlight the increasing demand for food imports from emerging markets like Africa and the growing risks of unsafe products entering U.S. borders. For many overseas food and agricultural businesses, the United States represents a coveted market. However, the rise in exports also underscores the critical need to ensure these products meet stringent safety and quality standards. Establishing robust food safety systems early in the production and distribution process is essential to mitigate risks, protect public health, and facilitate access to the U.S. market. This proactive approach also generates significant cost savings and economic benefits for U.S. global trade partners, while fostering safer and more sustainable trade practices. To address these challenges, FES will develop a digital platform to deliver virtual training, disseminate critical information, and validate food safety practices. This system will equip food producers in emerging markets with the tools to implement global standards and successfully pass a full HACCP audit. By partnering with local in- country organizations, FES will provide these services at an affordable cost. Businesses will pay for the service, with FES collecting a small margin to maintain and update training materials and standards. Food producers that meet required adoption levels will be referred to global certification bodies, such as LRQA and EAGLE, which have expressed interest in collaborating with FES on this initiative. This innovative program will not only enhance the safety and quality of imported foods but also support the economic development of emerging markets by enabling food businesses to access lucrative export opportunities in the United States. Following Phase 1, the program will be expanded to other countries and scaled to serve more food companies seeking to export to the U.S. and other global markets.