Countering Negative and Poorly Informed Reporting about U.S. Agricultural Practices and Consumer Choice – Creating U.S. Jobs and Economic Opportunities in Agriculture
Agency: U.S. Mission to the United Kingdom
Assistance Listings
- 19.451 -- Special International Exchange Grant Programs
Archived opportunityLast Updated: May 13, 2026
View version history on Grants.gov
Description
Promoting American jobs and exports is a top priority for the U.S. Administration. Equally
important is supporting UK efforts to remain an economically prosperous, outward-looking, and
market oriented country that shares our values, outlook and business practices. A post-Brexit
U.S.-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is the best way to achieve both goals. Unfortunately,
there are many misconceptions in the UK about U.S. agricultural practices and standards. These
have created strong public opposition to U.S. products and could jeopardize a FTA.
...
The misconceptions include animal welfare standards, GMOs and labeling, and the use of
antibiotics in livestock production. Media stories about “industrial scale” U.S. agriculture,
usually focused on so-called “chlorinated chickens,” are negative, misleading, and often
inaccurate.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commissioned a comprehensive consumer attitudes
survey in connection with Gallup to determine the depth of the problem. The data indicates
much work is needed to neutralize or reverse current trends and to provide the British public a
more nuanced view of United States agriculture practices and consumer choice. In the past 12
months, twice as many UK residents say they have heard negative news about food produced in
the United States (46%) as opposed to positive news (24%). Almost half of the poll responders
(48%) are unaware of the USDA or its food safety programs. Just 1% of British consumers
would buy American meat over British.
We seek to create a five- to seven-day exchange program that explores U.S. agricultural
practices, from production to labeling to selling, that will deepen influential UK journalists’ and
food activists’ understanding of the U.S. food ecosystem and promote U.S. agricultural exports.
Participants will explore small, medium, and large farms representing various certification
standards (organic, natural, conventional), research institutions supporting science-based
agricultural practices, government agencies that focus on ensuring food is nutritious and safe,
and other relevant institutions connected to U.S. farming. The locations should be carefully
chosen to be geographically and culturally diverse and reflect the breadth of choice the U.S.
consumer has when making food decisions. Strictly subject to the availability of funds, the
Embassy of the United States in London expects to select one program implementer for a
grant award between $60,000 and $75,000.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Miscellaneous
- Other
Additional information
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental
organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- Individuals
- Public international organizations and governmental institutions
Grantor contact information
Description
Grants Officer
Cultural Affairs Office
Embassy of the United States of America
London, United Kingdom
London Grants Mailbox
Documents
No documents are currently available.
Link to additional information
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Archived: September 1, 2019
Award
$--
Program Funding
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Expected awards
$60,000
Award Minimum
$75,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
DOS-LONDON-PD-2019-CA-020
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No
Funding instrument type:
Cooperative agreement
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
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Category of Funding Activity:
Education
Category Explanation:
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History
Version:
1
Posted date:
July 2, 2019
Archive date:
September 1, 2019
