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I have talked with agricultural attaches from Tokyo to Tel Aviv, from Mexico to 

 Moscow, from Cairo to Kaosiung. There is no question that the interest in U.S. 

 agriculture is intense. There is no point in being timid about this. The U.S. is still the 

 number one agricultural nation in the world. This is our strength. In my view, it is 

 imperative that we play from this strength. 



Since it was established 39 years ago, FAS has produced its full share of economic 

 benefits for U.S. agriculture and agricultural products. This has been particularly true of 

 bulk agricultural commodities. But in reality, the world is changing and FAS must change 

 along with it. 



We are poised on an extremely exciting time. We are the leading food producer in 

 the world and everywhere you turn there are growing consumer markets eager for what we 

 produce. We must position ourselves to take advantage of the tremendous economic 

 opportunities now before us. We cannot afford to sit back and allow the vast potential 

 agricultural marketplaces to slip away. 



For example, there are three major growing markets in the world that want U.S. 

 agricultural commodities. And there are not just interested in bulk products. More and 

 more as each day passes there is an increased interest in our processed food. In short, 

 what I am saying is that value-added food products are the wave of the future. People 

 want the value-added food products that we produce. We would have to be short-sighted 

 not to take advantage of this increased demand. To neglect this chance for exporting food 

 products on a large scale would be a tragedy, both for our food manufacturers as well as 

 the people of the world. 



