Our Work in Asia
Assisting Specialty Crop Exports in Asian Pacific Economies 2024-2027
Summary: The Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative is an innovative partnership between USDA and the specialty crops sector to break down non-tariff trade barriers that hinder U.S. exports of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, horticultural crops, and other products. AAG provides technical support and training while coordinating project partners and technical experts as the project lead. Project funded by USDA ASCE.
Project Partners: Bryant Christie Incorporated (BCI)
Project Team: Dr. Carmen Tiu, Alan Norden, Luis Suguiyama, and Ian Reichstein
Pakistani Regulatory Facilitation for U.S. Soybean Exports 2026
Summary: This project will engage with regulatory authorities in Pakistan to streamline the regulatory process for smooth and rapid import of U.S. Soybean into Pakistan. Project funded by USDA’s Emerging Market Program.
Partner: CABI-Asia
Project Team: Luis Suguiyama, Dr. Chris Peterson, Karen Hope, and Alexis Heather.
South Asia Pesticide Systems Alignment 2026
Summary: Project partners will identify regulatory gaps in pesticide standards and MRL systems in South Asian markets (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), prioritize intervention areas, and deliver a targeted series of workshops and consultations to support Codex-aligned, risk-based pesticide regulatory reform. Project funded by USDA’s Emerging Market Program.
Partner: CABI-Asia
Project Team: Luis Suguiyama, Karen Hope, and Alexis Heather.
Developing Pesticide Product Criteria and Reference Lists of Active Ingredients Exempt from Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in Southeast Asia 2024-26
Summary: Identify, prioritize and establish policies and procedures in Southeast Asian countries to recognize bio-pesticides and GRAS residues as exempt from Maximum Residue Limits. This project works towards harmonization of pesticide registration systems and standards to support trade of U.S. commodities. in these countries. Funded by USDA Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops.
Project Partner: CABI-Asia
Project Team: Dr. Jason Sandahl, Dr. Michael Braverman, Karen Hope, Luis Suguiyama
Pakistan Biopesticide Mitigation 2021-2024
Summary: Capacity building and training in Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) field residue studies and small-scale production of microbial bio-pesticides to support Pakistan’s registration process for bio-pesticides. Funding provided by CABI-Asia.
Project Partner: National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC)
Project Team: Dr. Jason Sandahl, Luis Suguiyama, Lloyd Garcia
Turkey Cochran Fellows Program 2023
Summary: This project supported a two-week visit to the United States for Cochran Fellows from Turkey. The Cochran Program supported training activities related to science-based practices and technologies for climate-smart and precision agriculture. The program included farm visits, meetings with U.S. government and State officials, specialty crop growers and agricultural researchers, and policy makers. Funded by USDA-FAS’ Cochran Program.
Project Partners: Oregon State University
Project Team: Dr. Jason Sandahl, Serkan Ates, Dave Stone, Zeynep Atamer and Leah Sandahl
Summary:This document summaarizes the process of establishing MRLs to assist Ukrainian regulators and Ukrainian industry stakeholders to understand what MRLs are, the international organizations regulating them on risk-based principles, and WTO obligations governing the alignment and change of MRLs to better inform policy making decisions.
Partners: USDA, USAID, Bridges
Project Team: Dr. Jason Sandahl, Dr. Janie Dubois
Sri Lanka Risk Assessment 2021
Summary: 5 day in-depth training on risk assessment, including agricultural inputs and food pathogens, for regulatory officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and the Sri Lankan Standards Department.
Project Team: Dr. Jason Sandahl – Project Lead. Dr. Dave Stone – Project Co-Lead support (Oregon State University), Dr. Krishan Sharma, Dr. Janie Dubois – Project Support, Dr. Lalith Aponso and Luis Suguiyama
ASEAN Pesticide Residue Data Generation Project (STDF) 2013-2019
Summary: Field Trials conducted in: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. (Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar participated as observers and attended some training courses).
Partners: ASEAN Secretariat, IR-4 Project (Rutgers University), Government agencies and institutions from the beneficiary countries, the ASEAN Expert Working Group on Harmonization of MRLs of Pesticides, USDA-FAS, US EPA, FAO/WHO, Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) Secretariat, and pesticide manufacturers (Dow, Syngenta, Valent/Sumitomo).
Project Team: Dr. Jason Sandahl, Dr. Michael Braverman, Dr. Wayne Jiang, Dr. Grace Lennon, Dr. Kevin Rice