AID grant no. PDC-0158-G-00-1009-00 to The Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA) to establish a US Agriculture Forum on Trade and Development to promote a public/private partnership in pursuing opportunities for US agriculture while enhancing broad-based, sustainable growth in emerging economies

private sector in the development of market-driven agriculture and agribusiness in Eastern Europe. Forum members will include representatives of agriculture producer organizations and agribusiness corporations as well as experts in food systems development. In addition, senior policy leaders from A.I.D., the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Export-Import Bank will be asked to participate. The forum will meet 3-4 times a year, and two or three subcommittees will be formed to address specific issues and opportunities. The forum"s agenda will focus on defining the role U.S. agriculture can play in Eastern Europe"s transition to market economies, educating U.S. agriculture and agribusiness about opportunities in these emerging economies, advancing the economic interests of U.S. agriculture and agribusiness, and promoting active linkages between U.S. commodity organizations and trade associations and their Eastern European counterparts.