The Wright Group showcases  their coated rice products

BANGKOK, THAILAND -- The USA Rice Federation has joined more than 100 representatives from global food aid and nutrition agencies, along with delegates from nine Asian nations, at a meeting here this week to discuss worldwide strategies for scaling up rice fortification.  The conference, sponsored by the World Food Programme (WFP), PATH, and UNICEF, marks the start of a global initiative to encourage mandatory fortification requirements.

The U.S. government is at the vanguard of this movement and is the only nation to test and approve the use of fortified rice for current nutritional programs.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that it has already received requests for the use of fortified rice from various private voluntary organizations and non-governmental organizations as well as WFP.

"This is encouraging news for U.S. rice farmers, millers, and processors as fortification of rice makes it a very attractive product for nutritional assistance," said Rebecca Bratter, USA Rice's representative at the meetings.  USA Rice has a long-standing strategy of encouraging an increase in the use of U.S. origin rice in food aid programs.

There remains however, some concern regarding the approved method for rice fortification. U.S. government commodity specifications for rice can currently be met by two technologies, a rinse resistant coated kernel, and a newly introduced technology for an extruded rice kernel, made with rice flour and a vitamin premix.

Both products will be blended back into milled rice at varying ratios and serve the purpose of addressing global micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations.

"The issue of the differing technologies is still very much under discussion and there remains a suite of issues requiring clarification," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice's vice president of international promotion.  "We are working to ensure both technologies are given equal consideration and to assist in mitigating the creation of any requirements that could potentially exclude the use of coated rice in global feeding programs."

Guinn added that USA Rice is working with USDA to organize a participatory stakeholder meeting in the U.S. in the fall to continue the discussion and ensure technology parity.

Contact:  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458 

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Show your support of National Rice Month (NRM) with the new Reach for Rice t-shirt.

Order these and other promotional items at the USA Rice Online Store.

Contact:  Katie Maher (703) 236-1453

Around Washington

USDA Unveils New Conservation Innovation Grants Totaling $157 Million  

Delta Farm Press

The grants are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and at least 50 percent of the total cost of CIG projects must come from non-federal matching funds, including cash and in-kind contributions provided by the grant recipient.

Around the Country

Arkansas Rice Farmers Make History KATV-ABC

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Trade and Tariffs

Americans Among Most Skeptical about Global Trade USA Today

According to a report from the Pew Research Center, 66% of people in developing countries say increased trade leads to local job creation and 55% say it increases their wages. Only 20% of Americans say trade creates more jobs at home, and 17% say it leads to bigger paychecks.