Ukraine -- Beginning in October 1998, the LSU AgCenter and its cooperating Ukrainian partners have provided an information/education/outreach system to assist the newly privatized farmers in Ukraine. The project funded at $ 2.6 million, has developed a Center for Private Farmer Training and Outreach in Vinnytsia oblast with a main office at the Vinnytsia State Agriculture University and twenty-six raion offices throughout the oblast. This project received a very positive evaluation by an USAID team of evaluators from Washington, DC, and resulted in the Kiev Mission of USAID approving a three-year expansion of the program at a funding level of $ 3.2 million. Through this expansion the LSU AgCenter and four Ukrainian partners replicated the successful extension model developed in Vinnytsia oblast to Khmelnytsky and Cherkasy - the two neighboring oblasts. This recently concluded project worked successfully with other local entities to develop new legislation authorizing “extension” services in the country. This legislation has now passed, and paves the way for extension/advisory services to become a reality.

Ukraine/Moldova/Georgia/Azerbaijan/Kazakhstan -- The LSU AgCenter, the World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO), and local partners in Ukraine and Moldova are implementing a USAID-funded project to develop awareness, support systems, networks, and best practices for the meat, seafood, and poultry industries. The project, funded by USAID/Washington in 2001 at $ 2.0 million, and known as the Partnerships for Food Industry Development (PFID) is unique due to the fact that the start up programs are centered in the fore-mentioned two countries while the program’s overall impact is aimed at a more global audience. After the successful completion of Phase I of this program, the USAID office in Washington, DC has extended the program for an additional five years starting in January of 2005 at a project funding level of 2.5 million dollars. This extension known as PFID Phase II will include Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as target countries

Nicaragua - As mentioned above, the recognized impact on stakeholders in the PFID Phase I program in Ukraine and Moldova, led to the LSU AgCenter successfully negotiating a Phase II of the PFID program. This program will extend the activities in Ukraine and Moldova to Nicaragua in Central America.

Nigeria -- In 2003 International Programs was contacted by Exxon/Mobil to look at aquaculture programs in Nigeria. Utilizing its existing partnership with Schaffer and Associates, a local Louisiana firm that has expertise in Africa, the LSU AgCenter entered into an agreement to conduct a feasibility study. This study is now completed, and the one-year implementation phase began in September 2004. This effort is ongoing, and the LSU AgCenter is anticipated to receive funding of approximately $ 200,000 for this effort.

Mali -- Based upon the interest of the Malian government and USAID/Washington, the LSU AgCenter participated with Schaffer and Associates to provide technical assistance in rice production, processing and the use of rice hulls for energy. USAID/Washington and the USAID Mission in Mali have provided funding for an assessment/study to utilize rice hulls as an energy source for rural electrification. This study was completed in November of 2004, and a round table conference completed in the fall of 2005. Further, donors have indicated interest in a similar approach to programs in Ghana, Senegal, Madagascar and Gambia.

Southern Africa Region: Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia -- As a result of the successful program under the PFID project umbrella, the LSU AgCenter successfully negotiated an Associate Award from the USAID Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA) at a five-year funding level of 2.7 million dollars. The targeted countries in the region include the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia. Project models that will be utilized in these target countries will include Food Safety and Quality, Value-Added Post-harvest Technology, Information Support Systems, Association Development and Market Linkages. The LSU AgCenter has harnessed the capabilities of US private sector partners the World Food Logistics organization (WFLO) in the cold chain and association building area, and Schafer and Associates International LLC (SAIL), a Louisiana firm in the project financing area. Further, the LSU AgCenter has established partnerships with in country institutions including the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, the University of Namibia (UNAM), the University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Mozambique, and the Zambia Agribusiness Technical Assistance Centre Ltd (ZATAC). Through these partnerships, the LSU AgCenter has enhanced its US based expertise with specialists in the food industry in Southern Africa.