DATCP, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), invites Wisconsin agribusinesses to apply for International Market Access Grants (IMAG) through April 1, 2023.
Coordinated by WEDC, IMAGs provide funding to support a company’s specific export development and deployment strategy. The Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE)* expands the existing IMAG program by designating funds solely for agribusinesses. Applicants must be an established agribusiness that is new to exporting or expanding into new markets, has been operating in Wisconsin for at least one year, and is manufacturing, processing, assembling, or distributing a product that has the potential to be exported.
Companies that have not completed ExporTech™ training can receive IMAG funding up to three times with a maximum of $10,000 per grant. ExporTech™ graduates can receive IMAG funding up to six times with a maximum of $25,000 per grant. Matching funds are required at 30 percent of the grant award. Eligible project expenses include costs associated with trade shows and ventures, marketing, promotions, consulting services, and export education.
Application materials can be requested by contacting:
Katie Ujdak, Global Trade & Investment Grants Specialist
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Email: katie.ujdak@wedc.org
Phone: (608) 210-6773
Food Export’s 2023 Export Advisor Program is now open and accepting registrations.
The Export Advisor Program is a no-cost, year-long service providing custom assistance to help food companies kick start or improve their strategy for export growth. This is a great program for any company interested in exporting but can use extra support from an export consultant to do market research and develop an export strategy.
We are excited that Wayne Batwin will be handling the Advisor Program for Midwest companies in 2023. Companies can learn more and register online here: 2023 Export Advisor Program.
The Division of Agricultural Development at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is providing an internship opportunity in Madison. The position will be paid with an expected 15-20 hours per week during the school year, and the option to increase hours during the summer. Eligible applicants must be enrolled as a student.
This position is responsible for program support for DATCP's international projects. Primary responsibilities include market research, database management, communicating with Wisconsin companies via email and telephone, completing reports, and assisting international consultants with event preparation.
Additional information can be requested by contacting:
Mark Rhoda-Reis
Email: mark.rhodareis@wisconsin.gov.
Phone: (608) 400-5311
One of the Export Expansion Grant projects supported by the WIAE* is a survey of dairy processors to understand the number of, and the barriers facing dairy product exporters. The following is a message from UW-Madison associate professor Dr. Charles (Chuck) Nicholson. If you are a dairy processor, please consider participating. If you know of dairy processors who may not be aware of this survey, please share the information.
From Dr. Nicholson:
With support of the UW-Madison Dairy Innovation Hub and the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports, we are conducting a research study on the current degree of participation by Wisconsin dairy companies in export markets and the most important barriers to entering or expanding presence in dairy export markets. To address these issues, we have developed an online survey that asks about your company's current involvement — or lack thereof — in dairy product export markets and the opportunities and challenges associated with it. Sharing your company’s experience with dairy export markets will provide information helpful to the development of future programs to support expansion of Wisconsin's dairy product exports.
We estimate that this survey should take 10-20 minutes to complete. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be made available or reported to any individual or organization other than the researchers, Dr. Chuck Nicholson, and Dr. Mark Stephenson of UW-Madison. No individual company data will be reported in any form, only aggregated survey results. If you have questions or concerns regarding the survey, we would be happy to discuss them.
Thank you for your assistance with this research effort.
Dr. Charles Nicholson
Agricultural & Applied Economics 442 Animal Science Building University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI 53705
Email: cfnicholson@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 890-0924
Supported by the Dairy Innovation Hub.
USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service is sponsoring international trade missions that open doors and deliver results for U.S. exporters. These trade missions give exporters the opportunity to create relationships with potential customers, gather market intelligence, and generate sales.
2023 locations include:
- Central America/Panama – March
- Netherlands – April
- Japan – June
- Malaysia – October
- Australia – December
For more information, visit Trade Missions | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. To apply for a trade mission, please contact trademissions@usda.gov.
Dates: March 8-11, 2023
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
VIV Asia is the biggest and most complete feed-to-food event in Asia, dedicated to the world of livestock production, animal husbandry, and all related sectors.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Luis Santana, Economic Development Consultant
Email: luis.santana@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 640-8075
Dates: April 11-13, 2023
Location: Distrito Anhembi, SP, Brazil
Through this trade show, entrepreneurs, business owners, and food and beverage industry professionals have the opportunity to meet and evaluate new suppliers, participate in the diverse options of special attractions and experiences, learn from industry experts, and have in-depth discussions about the industry’s latest global trends. The goal of the event is to help grow your business and increase your company’s competitiveness.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Shirley Acedo, Economic Development Consultant
Email: shirley.acedo@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 419-4643
Dates: April 25-28, 2023
Location: Singapore
Food and Hotel Asia is Asia’s largest food and drink trade event that brings together the global food and hospitality community. Southeast Asia is the world’s fastest growing regional population. Register for Food Show Plus to gain access to introductions to buyers, a virtual consultation with Food Export’s In-Market Representative prior to the show, lead qualification, on-site assistance, and more.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Lisa Stout, Economic Development Consultant
Email: Lisa.stout@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 514-4538
Dates: May 2-7, 2023
Location: Morocco
This is the largest agriculture show in Morocco.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Luis Santana, Economic Development Consultant
Email: luis.santana@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 640-8075
Dates: May 8-11, 2023
Location: Milan, Italy
Held biennially in Milan, TUTTOFOOD provides unmatched access to over 40,000+ trade-only visitors from Southern Europe. This event also offers 350+ hosted buyers from around the world who are invited by the the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) offices and with whom exhibitors can meet in pre-arranged one-on-one meetings.
Limited space remains in the USDA's USA Pavilion at TUTTOFOOD 2023. Opportunities exist for U.S. producers interested in establishing exports to Southern Europe, where demographic evolution is driving changes in consumer buying habits with high interest in new and trendy products.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Shirley Acedo, Economic Development Consultant
Email: shirley.acedo@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 419-4643
Dates: May 9-12, 2023
Location: Cologne, Germany
Funded by the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Interzum is the world’s leading international trade show for furniture production and interior construction. Every two years, global furniture manufactures, interior designers, architects, products developers, and consultants gather in Cologne to discuss the latest trends.
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) will support shared exhibit space of 27 square meters for Wisconsin companies to exhibit at the show.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Jennifer Lu, Economic Development Consultant
Email: jennifer.lu@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 347-1852
Dates: June 10-16, 2023
Location: United Kingdom
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
The UK is Wisconsin’s sixth largest trading partner. As the UK’s planned exit from the European Union (Brexit) continues, opportunities for food, forestry, and agriculture products will increase. Wood products, feed, livestock and genetics, craft spirits and beers, organic and specialty foods, and pet foods are among the products with the strongest opportunity.
The UK mission will include buyer meetings, store visits, market briefings, and meetings with regulatory entities. The mission will be led by DATCP staff and include meetings with national and regional government officials and industry and economic development organizations. WIAE funding will support the cost of in-country contractors providing partner searches, business meeting facilitation services, meeting costs, transportation, and market reports for up to six Wisconsin companies.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Shirley Acedo, Economic Development Consultant
Email: shirley.acedo@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 419-4643
Date: September 11-14, 2023
Location: Sydney, Australia
Furnished booth and Food Show Plus services at Fine Food Australia
Two booths remain within the Food Export area of the USA Pavilion at Fine Food Australia. The cost of the turn-key booth with Food Show Plus services is $6,495. A furnished 9-sq-meter booth (table, chairs, info counter, barstool, shelves, trashcan) including invitations to buyers, virtual consultation with In-Market Representative prior to the show, market briefing, retail tour, trade lead qualification and on-site assistance from In-Market Representative, PLUS scheduled one-on-one meetings with qualified buyers from New Zealand.
Wisconsin companies can apply for export grants to cover the cost of exhibiting.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Lisa Stout, Economic Development Consultant
Email: lisa.stout@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 514-4538
Date: October 7-11, 2023
Location: Cologne, Germany
Funded by the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
As the world's leading trade show for food and beverages, Anuga is bringing the international community together to cultivate export opportunities. The event will focus on connecting international attendees with buyers and exporters through personal discussions.
DATCP is coordinating a Wisconsin pavilion for food and beverage businesses interested in building and expanding trade in the Europe.
Interested in participating? Contact:
Shirley Acedo, Economic Development Consultant
Email: shirley.acedo@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 419-4643
 A group of dairy buyers from Thailand, sponsored by the USDA Cochran Fellowship Program and UW CALS Global were hosted by DATCP for a series of presentations on Wisconsin’s dairy industry on National Cheese Lover’s Day. DATCP international staff and the group coordinator, Carolyn Brady, UW-River Falls, accompanied the group throughout its two-week trip, spent touring cheese plants, training at the UW Center for Dairy Research, and gaining first-hand knowledge of Wisconsin’s specialty cheese industry.
*The Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE), a collaborative project between DATCP and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), aims to boost the export of dairy, meat, and crop products by promoting Wisconsin agricultural products in the international marketplace. The WIAE was proposed in Gov. Tony Evers 2021-23 biennial state budget.
For more information on the WIAE, sign up for email updates and visit the DATCP website.
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