Practical Approaches to Circularity in US-EU Food and Agricultural Trade | USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 22 0009

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 22 0009

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service grant opportunity titled Practical Approaches to Circularity in US-EU Food and Agricultural Trade is a discretionary cooperative agreement designed to help US and European stakeholders navigate the fast-changing sustainability and circular economy rules shaping food and agricultural trade. The core idea is that companies, sectors, and regulators often aim for similar environmental outcomes but use different methods, metrics, and compliance models. As new sustainability mandates emerge, agribusinesses that export to or operate in Europe need clearer, more practical guidance to adapt without causing unnecessary trade friction, supply chain disruptions, or cost spikes for producers and consumers.

The funded project focuses on designing, planning, and delivering workshops and seminars that bring together regulators, policymakers, technical experts, researchers, and private-sector practitioners from the United States and the EU. These sessions are meant to translate broad sustainability goals into workable, evidence-based approaches for real supply chains, with emphasis on scientific and technical solutions rather than purely political debate. Topic areas include high-impact, near-term regulatory and market pressure points such as plastic packaging bans and restrictions, farm-to-fork traceability requirements, ecolabeling schemes, certification and safety questions around recycled food contact materials, reverse logistics and reverse supply chains for reusable packaging systems, and approaches to deforestation-free supply chains. A central theme running through the opportunity is that sustainability compliance is increasingly determined by analytical methods like life cycle assessment, yet there is no single globally accepted standard for how those analyses should be performed or compared across products and regions. USDA highlights this as a strategic opening to ensure that US agricultural research, technologies, and production practices are appropriately represented and understood when environmental impacts are evaluated in European policy and market contexts.

Structurally, USDA expects the activities to be timed and placed for maximum influence, often on the margins of major international trade shows or pre-existing gatherings where decision-makers and industry leaders already convene. The intent is to leverage these moments to facilitate direct exchanges between US and EU stakeholders and officials on how to meet sustainability objectives in a balanced way, avoiding approaches that inadvertently restrict trade or impose disproportionate compliance burdens. The opportunity also ties the work to broader US-EU cooperation efforts, particularly the Collaborative Platform on Agriculture (CPA), a joint engagement channel between USDA and the European Commission Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development meant to strengthen communication, build trust, and align understanding on climate, sustainability, and agri-food trade priorities.

The workshops and seminars are expected to feature speakers and instructors drawn from relevant US, EU/EEA, and European research institutions, along with government subject matter experts and private-sector representatives actively working on circular economy and sustainability initiatives. The target participant profile is specialized and technical, including people with expertise in circularity innovation, sustainable feedstocks, traceability systems, packaging and logistics, and other operational elements that determine whether a circular economy policy is feasible at scale. USDA lays out four main intended outcomes for participants: first, improving understanding of practical, transparent, evidence-based ways to address the scientific and technical challenges of implementing sustainability and circular economy mandates across international supply chains; second, sharing and absorbing existing research, best practices, and lessons learned from both US and European industry experiences; third, identifying opportunities to provide scientific and technical input into proposed EU and EU Member State sustainability initiatives so that rules are implementable and do not unnecessarily disrupt agricultural trade; and fourth, strengthening understanding of emerging EU and Member State circular economy regulations and what compliance looks like in practice.

In terms of priorities and setting, USDA is explicitly aiming to broaden the policy conversation in Europe by bringing more of the practical, on-the-ground stakeholders into the discussion, especially those working through the technical hurdles of packaging transitions, traceability systems, ecolabeling criteria, and other circularity measures. Potential venues mentioned include side events at major fora such as the SIAL Food Trade Show in Paris, relevant OECD Agriculture and Environment Committee meetings in Paris, and meetings in Brussels, as well as seminars held directly in agricultural producing regions within the EU in partnership with local academic and agricultural institutions. The place of performance is primarily select EU Member States, although activities may also take place in the United States and can be conducted in hybrid or virtual formats when appropriate.

From an implementation standpoint, the recipient organization is expected to work closely with USDA offices in Washington, Paris, Brussels, and potentially other EU Member States. The recipient is responsible for the practical delivery work: selecting appropriate venues, building agendas, recruiting and selecting speakers, handling speaker logistics as needed, and producing printed materials like agendas and related workshop documents. The award structure is a single cooperative agreement, meaning USDA anticipates active collaboration and coordination rather than a hands-off grant relationship.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service under CFDA 10.960, with an award ceiling of $150,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities). The funding opportunity number is USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 22 0009, with an original posting date of July 15, 2022 and an original closing date of July 29, 2022.

• The Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Practical Approaches to Circularity in US-EU Food and Agricultural Trade" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 15, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 29, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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.

Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 22 0009

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