# Engagement with Asia and Regional Economic Communities to Promote Alignment of MRL Standard Setting Bodies

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/usda-fas-10960-0700-10-22-0023-engagement-with-asia-and-regional-economic-communities-to/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/340661

> Foreign Agricultural Service offered grants of up to $250,000 (at least $1) to nonprofits and colleges and universities. It expected to make one award worth $1.0 million in total. Applications closed on June 27, 2022.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-22-0023 |
| Agency | Foreign Agricultural Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 27, 2022 |
| Award ceiling | $250,000 |
| Award floor | $1 |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | $1.0 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.960 |

## Who can apply

- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

A government of an emerging agricultural country, an intergovernmental organization, a private voluntary organization, a nonprofit agricultural organization or cooperative, a nongovernmental organization, a college or university, and any other private entity.

## What the grant funds

Background One of the greatest threats to vital pesticide tools and maximum residue limits (MRLs) for U.S. farmers and other farmers around the world, is the reduction or removal of MRLs from the European Union, which has a spillover effect of forcing farmers outside of Europe to discontinue use of important pesticides or modify their use pattern in such a way as to make them ineffective against damaging pests and diseases. With potential loses of EU markets, countries must find ways to expand trade opportunities and support their farmers by providing and maintaining critical pest control tools and trade standards. Trade between the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific region is growing more quickly than any other region and is set to continue on an explosive trajectory. This is particularly true for fresh fruit and vegetable commodities, which are disproportionately affected by pesticide MRL-related trade barriers. Access to newer, low-risk, pesticide products continue to be challenging for farmers around the world. Even when the products are available, farmers in all countries, including the United States, face trade barriers when residue standards differ, or do not exist, in export markets. These obstacles, and calls for collaborative action, have been highlighted at the 3rd Global Minor Use Summit (Montreal, October 2017), the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee (Geneva, October 2017), and the 11th Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference (Argentina, December 2017). At these international conferences, it was recognized that the foundation of working toward aligned MRLs and providing critical pest control tools for farmers originates with strong and coordinated national pesticide registration systems. Description The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) recognizes that to ensure continued market access for U.S. agricultural exports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture must provide technical assistance to Asia officials to assist in the development and adoption of science-based and trade-facilitating policies. While the United States is one of Asia’s largest trading partners, sanitary, phytosanitary and food safety regulations that are inconsistent with international standards continue to disrupt exports of U.S. agricultural products into the region.

## Questions people ask

### Is USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-22-0023 still open?

No. It closed on June 27, 2022.

### Who can apply for Engagement with Asia and Regional Economic Communities to Promote Alignment of MRL Standard Setting Bodies?

Foreign Agricultural Service accepted applications from nonprofits and colleges and universities. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Engagement with Asia and Regional Economic Communities to Promote Alignment of MRL Standard Setting Bodies?

Closed June 27, 2022. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $250,000 each. About $1.0 million in total for one award.

### Who has won Technical Agricultural Assistance grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Tanzania Horticultural Association Limited, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical. The program made 119 awards worth $50.6 million in that time.