The Advisory
Committee on Emerging Markets is comprised of representatives from
the private sector experienced in agribusiness and management, and
with interest and/or experience in exports and similar overseas
operations. The primary
general mission of the Committee is to make recommendations on
policies and programs which will enhance agricultural exports to
emerging markets through the use of Emerging Markets Program
authority. Specifically,
Committee members review from a business perspective qualified
proposals submitted to the Program for funding assistance,
principally from the private sector.
This review is done prior to obtaining policy level approval
and funding commitments from the agency.
Committee reviews of proposals balance private sector
perspectives with government views, an important consideration since
the program emphasizes involvement by private industry.
Mandated by the
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 as amended by
the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002, the members operate under a federal
charter and are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture for
2‑year terms.
The Committee
consists of up to 20 members from both private industry and academia
representing a cross-section of the agricultural industry, and
also of geographic and ethnic diversity.
Sectorial expertise among members encompasses fields such as
agricultural policy and economics; banking and finance; marketing;
production and processing of food and feed; livestock and genetics;
farm cooperatives and agribusiness management; transport, storage
and handling; and individual commodity expertise.
Frequency of
meetings varies, depending upon the issues to be considered and the
range and importance of activities under consideration by FAS at any
given time. Meetings
always stimulate dialogue between Committee members and FAS and USDA
staff, and are a prerequisite to successful functioning of the
Committee. There is
also regular communication between members and agency staff between
formal sessions. Needless to say, the Committee’s recommendations play an
important role in the agency’s funding decisions.
List of Current Committee Members
(.pdf)