As part of U.S. President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba to further normalization of relations, advance commercial and people-to-people ties, and express support for human rights for all Cubans, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced several measures that will foster further collaboration between the U.S. and Cuban agriculture sectors.
While in Cuba, Vilsack announced that USDA will allow the 22 industry-funded Research and Promotion Programs and 18 Marketing Order organizations to conduct authorized research and information exchange activities with Cuba. These groups, which are responsible for creating bonds with consumers and businesses around the world in support of U.S. agriculture, will be able to engage in cooperative research and information exchanges with Cuba about agricultural productivity, food security and sustainable natural resource management. Vilsack called the announcement “a significant step forward in strengthening our bond and broadening agricultural trade between the United States and Cuba.”
During their bilateral meeting today, Vilsack and Cuban Minster of Agriculture Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero will sign a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a framework for sharing ideas and research between the two countries. Secretary Vilsack also has invited Minister Rodriguez to join on a visit to one of USDA’s Climate Sub Hubs in Puerto Rico in late May, where USDA researchers are studying the effects of climate change in the subtropical region and strategies for mitigating these effects.
“Recognizing the importance of agriculture in the United States and Cuba, USDA is advancing a new partnership for the 21st century between our two countries,” said Vilsack. “U.S. producers are eager to help meet Cuba’s need for healthy, safe, nutritious food. Research and Promotion and Marketing Order Programs have a long history of conducting important research that supports producers by providing information about a commodity’s nutritional benefits and identifying new uses for various commodities. The agreements we reached with our Cuban counterparts on this historic trip, and the ability for our agriculture sector leaders to communicate with Cuban businesses, will help U.S. agricultural interests better understand the Cuban market, while also providing the Cuban people with science-based information as they grow their own agriculture sector.”
美国农业部将审查所有拟议的与古巴有关的研究和促进委员会以及营销令活动，以确保它们符合现行法律。可能发生的活动示例包括：
- 提供营养研究和指导，并与古巴政府和行业官员一起参加有关营养和古巴相关法规的会议。
- 在学校进行餐盘垃圾研究，以确定孩子吃什么和丢弃什么，从而改进营养信息，帮助制定学校膳食要求指南，确保孩子获得足够的营养以在学校取得成功。
- 向古巴政府和行业官员提供美国市场、消费者、营养和环境研究结果。
- Research commodities’ role in a nutritious diet that improves health or lowers the risk of chronic diseases.
- 研究水消毒剂消除/灭活商品细菌的功效。
- 在所有年龄段的古巴消费者中测试配方和特定产品，以提高产品开发和接受度为目标。
- 进行消费者跟踪研究以衡量对特定商品和消费的态度，并根据他们对特定商品的行为、态度和购买习惯来识别消费者群体。
The visit to the Puerto Rico Sub Hub would allow USDA and Cuba’s Ministry of Agriculture to exchange information on climate change as it relates to tropical forestry and agriculture, and explore opportunities for collaboration. The two officials would be able to explore tools and strategies to cope with challenges associated with climate change, such as drought, heat stress, excessive moisture, longer growing seasons, and changes in pest pressure.
波多黎各中心是美国农业部区域气候中心网络的一部分，该网络支持应用研究并向农民、牧场主、顾问和管理人员提供信息，以便为气候相关决策提供信息。对于那些寻求了解气候变化的具体风险以及特定地区的适应战略的人来说，这些中心是宝贵的资源。
加勒比地区的农业和林业部门特别容易受到气候变化的影响。该地区不仅特别容易受到极端天气事件的影响，而且其大部分人口和主要农田都位于沿海地区。波多黎各子中心专门致力于应对这些独特的挑战，并支持从事热带林业和农业的人员和机构。
While most U.S. commercial activities are prohibited, the Trade Sanctions Reform Act (TSRA) of 2000 permits the export of U.S. agricultural commodities, though U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba are limited by U.S. restrictions on government export assistance, cash payments, and extending credit. U.S. agricultural exports have grown significantly since trade was authorized in 2000. In 2014, Cuba imported over $2 billion in agricultural products including $300 million from the United States. However, from 2014 to 2015, U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba fell 48 percent to $148.9 million, the lowest since 2002, giving the United States just a 10 percent market share as Cuba’s fourth largest agricultural supplier, behind the EU, Brazil, and Argentina.
This historic visit to Cuba is the first by a sitting U.S. President in nearly 90 years. It is Secretary Vilsack’s second visit and is another demonstration of the President’s commitment to chart a 新课程 促进美古关系，并通过扩大旅行、商业和信息获取将美国和古巴公民联系起来。
资料来源：美国农业部