DATCP is currently hiring two Economic Development Consultants for its International Agribusiness Center. To apply, visit https://wisc.jobs and search for “economic development” in the search field, or search by agency by clicking “Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection”.
Food Export’s 2024 Export Advisor Program is now accepting registrations. The Export Advisor Program is a no-cost, year-long service providing custom assistance to help food companies kickstart or improve their export growth. This program is for companies interested in using an export consultant to support market research and strategy development.
To learn more or to register for the program, visit www.foodexport.org.
 April 7-12, 2024 – Toronto and Winnipeg, Canada
The U.S. and Canada have the world’s largest and most comprehensive trading relationship, with more than $3 billion in goods and services crossing the border daily. Canada is an open and transparent market for U.S. products and services.
The trade mission registration fee includes:
- Market research, customized one-on-one appointments with potential customers, agents, distributors, and other market intermediaries
- Hotel accommodations and ground transportation, including transportation from Toronto to Winnipeg
- Interpreter fees, as needed
- Some group meals
May 6-10, 2024 – Santiago, Chile
Chile is a free-trade partner with the U.S. and as such, it is an easy and secure place for Americans to do business. Chile is one of the largest export markets for U.S. consumer-oriented food products, has a stable economy, and is a gateway for U.S. exporters looking to reach Latin American markets.
Dairy, foods, ingredients, beverages, livestock, genetics, feed, supplements, wood products, and ginseng companies are encouraged to apply. This multi-sector trade mission will include buyer meetings, store visits, farm visits, market briefings, meetings with regulatory entities, and government officials, as well as with industry and economic development organizations.
Participants are responsible for airfare, hotel, and most meals.
Only two spots remain open for this trade mission, so reserve your company's spot now!
Interested in participating? Contact: Shirley Acedo.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
May 28-30, 2024 – Nantes, France
Carrefour is a forestry product trade show organized every two years in Nantes, France. As Europe's leading industry event focused on sawn wood, panels, parquet flooring, specialized trade, and wood construction solutions, the show attracted over 600 exhibitors from 40 countries in 2022.
DATCP offers a turnkey, furnished, and shared booth package. Participants are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
Interested in participating? Contact: Jennifer Lu.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
 June 18-21, 2024 – Bogota, Colombia
Alimentec is a leading platform for the food, beverage, and hospitality industry in the Andean region, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The fair is the ideal scenario to present different products and services related to food and gastronomy. In its previous edition, it had a total of 449 companies from 30 different countries exhibiting, with 28,458 visitors seeking innovative solutions and the latest industry trends.
DATCP offers a turnkey, furnished, and shared booth package. Participants are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
Interested in participating? Contact: Shirley Acedo.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
 Mid-June to early July (exact dates coming soon) – Wuhan, China
China Dairy Expo is the largest dairy show in China. Organized by the China Dairy Association, it is the most influential dairy farming and production event in the country, covering the entire dairy production chain.
Wisconsin businesses interested in building and expanding trade in the Chinese dairy industry are invited to exhibit, including those whose products are dairy genetics, feed supplements and nutrition, animal health, disease management, veterinary services and products, manure water treatment technology and systems, water management, dairy education and training, dairy processing and service companies, and dairy publications.
DATCP offers a turnkey, furnished, and shared booth package. Participants are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
Interested in participating? Contact: Jennifer Lu.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
 August 6-10, 2024 – Castro, Brazil
Agroleite is a technical event aimed at all phases of the milk supply chain and is the place to showcase milk technology in Latin America. It takes place in Castro, a national capital of milk, and seeks to present the potential of milk production in the region in qualitative and quantitative aspects.
DATCP staff will lead an outbound trade mission to Agroleite and visit farms in the region. Dairy producers and genetics companies are encouraged to attend in order to develop relationships with potential buyers and increase demand for Wisconsin dairy genetics.
Interested in participating? Contact: Shirley Acedo.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
September 3-5, 2024 – Nairobi, Kenya
The Kenyan Food Event, also known as KFE, is East Africa's largest food, drink, and hospitality trade exhibition!
Why Kenya? Processed foods, meat, dairy, distilled spirits, craft beers, health and organic foods, snacks, and dry rubs are all gaining in popularity as urbanization increases.
East Africa is an untapped market of opportunity for food and beverage companies. That is because:
- There are roughly 1,200 food and beverage manufacturers in Kenya alone, ranging from smaller organizations to multinationals.
- Growing incomes and rising urbanization have caused a sustained increase in food and beverage sales in Kenya over the last 15 years,
- Figures suggest Nairobi has the highest consumer food and beverage spending power, with more being spent on high-cost foods.
- The food and beverage sub-sector in hospitality is valued at $302 million USD, with a 5% growth rate per year.
DATCP offers a turnkey, furnished, and shared booth package for interested Wisconsin businesses. Participants are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
Interested in participating? Contact: Shirley Acedo.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
 The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is offering the following upcoming trade missions to build business relationships:
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Canada: April 7-12, 2024, stops in Toronto, Winnipeg
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Germany: April 6-13, 2024, centered in Munich
Learn more and register at the WEDC website.
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) agricultural trade missions help American companies increase their global reach. Upcoming missions include:
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South Korea (Seoul): Week of March 25, 2024
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India (New Delhi): Week of April 22, 2024
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Canada (Vancouver): Week of June 17, 2024
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Colombia (Bogota): Week of July 29, 2024
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Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with buyers from Thailand): Week of September 9, 2024
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Morocco (Casablanca, with buyers from Senegal and Francophone West Africa): Week of December 2, 2024
Learn more and register at the USDA FAS website.
 ExporTech™ is for emerging and experienced exporters to develop their strategic export plan. Over the course of three full-day sessions, CEOs/presidents and senior leaders in sales/marketing, finance, and operations join with non-competing companies to determine their top three export markets and develop an actionable, strategic plan.
Agricultural companies with products including processed foods, grains, mink pelts, livestock, genetics, and more are encouraged to participate.
ExporTech™ graduates realize between $600,000 and $1,000,000 in average incremental exports growth one year after completing the program.
Interested in participating? Contact: Heidi Rabeneck.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports* and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
 The second round of funding for the International Market Access Grants, or IMAGs, are open from February 1 to March 15, 2024. Any applicants who receive an award in the second round will complete a short-term project, starting in the spring of 2024 and ending no later than December 31, 2024. WEDC expects this round to be highly competitive. There is a one-time exception to the revenue cap for WIAE-eligible companies during this second round, so companies with annual revenue of over $100 million can apply in this round.
For more information, contact: Katie Ujdak.
DATCP staff attended the Lake States Lumber Association’s annual conference on January 17 and 18 in Appleton. There, staff delivered a presentation to more than 80 attendees on Wisconsin agricultural export trends, challenges, opportunities, and funding resources, including WIAE activities.
American Hardwood Export Council Executive Director Mike Snow, along with staff from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Paper Council, and American Hardwood Association, presented on the global and national issues the industry faces. In addition, they spoke about what new compliance requirements the European Union has for American hardwoods.
Networking allowed DATCP staff to have fruitful discussions with industry peers and a new client, Ort Hardwood and Flooring, was recruited to join the Carrefour wood tradeshow in France in May.
Seeking additional details? Contact: Jennifer Lu.
 In collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW), Center for Dairy Research, University Wisconsin-River Falls, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Bangkok, and US Consulate General to Chiang Mai, five Wisconsin cheese companies participated in a cheese-focused trade mission from January 28 to Feb 3, 2024.
Organic Valley, Blue River Trading, Ellsworth Creamery, Marieke Gouda, and Orange Cheese all participated in the trade mission. Each company had over 13 businesses matchmaking meetings and a total of over 60 meetings were facilitated, including meetings with importers, retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers and manufacturers.
Over 100 potential Thai buyers and media influencers attended a technical and sensory workshop in Bangkok. 98 retail and food service business representatives and importers attended the Taste of Wisconsin Cheese reception at the US Consulate General’s Residence in Chiang Mai. Participating companies reported overall estimation of $350,000 in sales in the next six to 12 months. DFW in particular will sign a local contractor in Thailand as a result of the trade mission.
Seeking additional details? Contact: Jennifer Lu.
 From January 27 to February 3, staff from DATCP’s International Agribusiness Center and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation partnered together to lead a business trade mission to Mexico. Representatives from five Wisconsin companies took part in the mission, including Croix Valley and Hinterland Brewing, the latter of which was participating in an international trade mission for the first time.
Participating businesses learned about the Mexican market; met with buyers, importers, distributors, and officials from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service; and went on several retail tours of Mexican businesses in Mexico City and Monterrey.
Seeking additional details? Contact: Shirley Acedo.
 In mid-February, staff from DATCP’s International Agribusiness Center represented Wisconsin at the United States Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE) annual meeting in Monterrey, Mexico. Staff attended training sessions, met with Agricultural Trade Office/Foreign Agricultural Service staff, networked with other members in attendance, and visited a ranch to learn about Charolais and Charbray genetics in Mexico.
Seeking additional details? Contact: Shirley Acedo.
 From February 18-24, DATCP staff, along with representatives from Grande Cheese, Chippewa Valley Bean, and Masters Gallery, exhibited within the Wisconsin Pavilion at the Gulfood tradeshow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This was the biggest show in Gulfood’s history, with over 5,500 leading food and beverage companies showcasing more than 150,000 new products from more than 190 countries. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, MCT Dairies, Renard's Cheese, Schreiber Foods, Tropical Foods, AMPI, and Tamera all exhibited within the United States Dairy Export Council space as well.
DATCP staff participated in a retail store tour; attended a USDA reception; and held meetings with staff from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, United States Dairy Export Council, and United States Meat Export Federation while also assisting Wisconsin companies increase exports of their products to the region.
Seeking additional details? Contact: Shirley Acedo.
Wisconsin companies North American Fly, Patrick Mink, Van Ansem Farms, and Zimbal Mink exhibited in the Wisconsin booth at the Hong Kong International Fur & Fashion Fair from February 22-25. There, the companies showcased the craftsmanship, quality, and sustainability practices of their Wisconsin-made products. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Hong Kong attended the show along with DATCP staff.
Seeking additional details? Contact: Jennifer Lu.
*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. WIAE was proposed in Gov. Tony Evers' 2021-23 biennial state budget.
For more information on WIAE, sign up for email updates and visit the DATCP website.
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