March 29, 2022

USDA announces new programme to expand meat processing capacity

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA), which will provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants and grant-funded projects.

This USDA technical assistance can be accessed by Processors and applicants involved with the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) programme and the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Programme (MPPEP)

The department also announced that it will accept new applications in competitive grant funding worth US$23.6 million available through the MPIRG programme.

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will also establish cooperative agreements with three non-profit organisations. This partnership aims to coordinate and provide technical assistance utilising a wide range of expertise and outreach strategies. The organisations will also create a nationwide support network for meat and poultry grant applicants to navigate the application process, and to assist grant recipients throughout their project.

Tom Vilseck, US Agriculture Secretary, said the partnership will assist meat and poultry processors and grant applicants diversify processing ownership throughout the country.

The AMS will accept applications until May 24, 2022 for second round of MPIRG programme funding totalling US$23.6 million.

-      US Department of Agriculture