AID cooperative agreement no. CCN-0006-A-00-3038-00 with the Tri Valley Growers to support the food systems restructuring project in the New Independent States

Tri Valley Growers and its partner associations, The American Seed Trade Association, and The National Potato Promotion Board, will encourage its members to invest in or become joint venture partners with indigenous private or cooperative organizations working within, primarily, the fruit and vegetable industries in the Russian Far East, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and southern regions of the republics. The involvement of seed companies will result in the rapid privatization of seed production, and create two-way trade, probably of genetic materials for crossbreeding and the creation of marketable hybrids. The involvement of the potato industry will result in the reform of seed potato import policies (potatoes account for 25% of the typical diet in the NIS), improve potato varieties, and increase U.S. investment in modern potato processing and storage facilities. In addition, Tri Valley Growers and its partner associations -- although they do not seek to undertake a major institution building initiative -- will provide NIS joint venture partners with TA for management and technical strengthening, and with critical commodities such as hybrid seeds and equipment needed for small-scale processing.