The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) hosted a six-person Ghanaian delegation to its office last week as part of a learning journey to Washington, D.C., during which participants explored ways to update Ghana’s veterinary and animal production laws.

During their visit to the Council, the team learned about establishing sound, pro-trade meat safety and feed quality laws. Using Morocco as a positive example, the Council urged the team members and to create standards for excellence that build consumer confidence but also enable industry and trade to flourish.

Ghana is located in the Sub-Sharan African region, which is dominated by countries that experience frequent crop reductions or failures as a result of weather, rely on food aid or have biotech policy restrictions. The Council’s activities in this area are focused on addressing market access issues as they arise and targeting influential countries that can address biotechnology polices with regional impact on feed grain trade.

The team visits recently was sponsored by the Food and Agricultural Export Alliance (FAEA), a joint cooperator program to establish feed and food regulations in developing countries around the world. It is made up of four commodity associations including the Council, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, the USA Poultry and Egg Export Association and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. The group is also supported by the National Pork Producers Council, the North American Meat Institute, Elanco Animal Health and Merck Animal Health.

FAEA’s members believe they can facilitate international trade and improve food and feed safety by assisting nations in developing applicable regulatory requirements that achieve or exceed international standards and guidelines. This team was part of that strategy as it examined ways to improve livestock production, which ultimately may lead to opportunities for imports of U.S. coarse grains and co-products.

The Council will continue to build Sub-Sharan Africa’s capacity for food security through improved productivity and trade, including with educational activities like this team.