183 



Statement, S. R. Johnioa Pt«e } 



Houia Subcomine* on Foraiga Aariculcure >nd Hunger March 31. 1993 



• Food procatting and parkaging 

 Panidpaiu* -were Kcmited from througbout Russia and Ukraine. Five training aassions were held 

 in each location with approximately 1,100 participants. Evaluations prepared by the participants 

 in^^i^? tf^ that the training sessions were quite successful and that a major strength was the ability of 

 the Centers to demonstrate modem technology and management methods. 



Tnsdk PpportMmtia: During the training exercises, we also arniimilarfH information from the 

 participants on their conunercial interests with U.S. firms. In particular, a database was generated 

 that provided information on the farming operations of the participants, the location and 

 organization of these activities, and special interests that they had in acquiring U.S. technologies 

 aad mawagi'nn ynt methods or, more generally, support for the economic reforms. Follow-up on 

 T}tKf trade and commercial leads was supplied by the Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and 

 Information Center (MATRIQ and JB DEMOS. The latter is a joint venture between a nonprofit 

 corporation in Iowa (Corporation for International Trade), a Russian insurance enterprise, and the 

 Russian Academy of Agricultural Science. jfB DEMOS operates trade support and commercial 

 offices in Des Moines and Moscow. 



In my view, the Agribusiness Centers represent a viable and productive way to assist with the 

 M-nnnmir reforms for agriculture in the FSU and to create trade and other commercial 

 opportunities for U.S. agribusiness firms. Such trade and commercial opportunities are especially 

 important for small- and medium-sized firms that do not have the resources or capacity to explore 

 market and other commercial akematives associated with the transition to a market economy in the 

 FSU. 



The following U.S. firms were involved in our Agribusiness Centers project in 1992: 



Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Des Moines, Iowa 



Stine Seed Company, Adel, Iowa 



Broyhill Company, Dakoa City, South Dakota 



Monsanto, St. Louis, Missouri 



Triple F, Urbandale, Iowa 



Shiwers, Inc., Corydon, Iowa 



Golden Valley Microwave Foods, Fdina, Minnesou 



Fort Dodge Laboratories, Fort Dodge, Iowa 



Sloch Supplies, Inc., Kansas Gty, Missouri 



Hy Line International, West Des Moines, Iowa 



Holstein Association, Brattleboro, Vermont 



