Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) Active Projects
The USDA FAS Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) Initiative projects address crucial trade issues facing U.S. specialty crops growers and exporters. Additional projects will continue to be developed on a rolling basis. The following projects are currently funded:
| ASCE Project | Organization | Description |
| ASCE Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab (SPIL) | Foundation for Fresh Produce, founded by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) | Funding mechanism to support research on sustainable packaging and commercial pilots of innovative packaging systems to comply with emerging foreign regulations. Will be open for applications for funding soon. |
| ASCE Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab (SPIL) | Clemson University | Funding mechanism to support research on sustainable packaging and commercial pilots of innovative packaging systems to comply with emerging foreign regulations. Will be open for applications for funding soon. |
| Import MRL Guideline Implementation in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Member Economies | Ag Aligned Global | Establishing trade-facilitative import standards in key U.S. export markets for specialty crops through the adoption and implementation of the official APEC Import MRL Guideline for Pesticides. |
| Increasing Data Generation for Codex MRLs and Harmonized MRL Setting | Minor Use Foundation | Collaborative pesticide residue research and data generation for the establishment of Codex MRLs for specialty crops in collaboration with The IR-4 Project |
| Asia: Regional Alignment of Pesticide Regulatory Systems and Trade Facilitative MRLs | CABI | Development of risk-based and trade-facilitative policies consistent with international standards in Southeast Asia |
| Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Alignment of Pesticide Regulatory Systems and Trade Facilitative MRLs | Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) | Development of risk-based and trade-facilitative policies consistent with international standards in Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Africa: Regional Alignment of Pesticide Regulatory Systems and Trade Facilitative MRLs | CABI | Development of risk-based and trade-facilitative policies consistent with international standards in Africa |
| Quick Reference Sheets on MRLs for U.S. Specialty Crops | Bryant Christie, Inc | Development of quick reference sheets on MRLs in key export markets for 60 specialty crops, helping make export requirements more easily understandable and accessible for U.S. producers |