Colorado Ag Services Rep on South Africa Trade Mission

Colorado Ag Services Rep on South Africa Trade Mission

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett
A Longmont agriculture services manager says he is encouraged about trade following a recent trip with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on a trade mission to South Africa.

John Mizicko a Business Development Manager says his firm, EuroFins BioDiagnostics, helps very large seed companies down to mom and pop growers determine the health of the field and vegetable seeds they're growing. He's hoping to do the same for the fledgeling seed industry in Sub Saharan Africa.

" A part of it is determining the genetic purity of those varieties but also the seed health. Seed health is extremely important in the vegetable seed industry."

A wide range of companies were on the trade mission from a miniature horse breeder to large chicken producers and a distillery.

"And in talking with all of them during dinner and breaks all of them were finding the prospects very interesting."

The mission is part of USDA's continuing effort to tap into new markets for U.S. agricultural products. Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney lead the mission and said the Southern Africa region is typically a net importer of agricultural goods, but the majority of those imports currently come from Europe, Asia and elsewhere in Africa.

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