(NAFB) – As part of USDA’s commitment to expanding and diversifying global market opportunities for U.S. agriculture, the agency will sponsor an additional four overseas trade missions this year.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced it at Commodity Classic in New Orleans. He recently returned from a trade mission to Saudi Arabia, the agency’s first overseas trip since the start of COVID-19. “Each year, the Foreign Agriculture Service’s international team of marketing and trade experts pinpoint new and growing global markets that offer top-notch prospects for U.S. exports,” Vilsack says.

While the final dates are yet to be confirmed, the trade missions will be in London, Manilla, the Philippines, Nairobi, Kenya, and Madrid, Spain. “The events of the last few years have certainly underscored the importance of diversifying our agricultural export markets,” Vilsack adds. Ag exports hit an all-time high in 2021, topping $177 billion. 28 markets around the globe each brought in $1 billion in U.S. exports.