Emerging Markets Program (EMP)

The Emerging Markets Program (EMP) helps U.S. organizations promote exports of U.S. agricultural products to countries that have—or are developing—market-oriented economies and that have the potential to be viable commercial markets.

Through the EMP, FAS provides cost-share funding for technical assistance activities such as feasibility studies, market research, sectorial assessments, orientation visits, specialized training and business workshops. The EMP supports exports of generic U.S. agricultural commodities and products, meaning projects that endorse or promote branded products or specific companies are not eligible.

There is no fixed list of "emerging market" countries, but the legislation defines an emerging market as any country that "is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through the food, agriculture, or rural business sectors of the economy of the country" and "has the potential to provide a viable and significant market for United States commodities or products of United States agricultural commodities." Guidance on qualified countries is provided each year in the program application announcement.

1. To participate in the EMP, U.S. private or government entities must demonstrate a role or interest in the exports of U.S. agricultural commodities. Government organizations consist of Federal, state, and local agencies. Private entities include non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, SRTGs, consulting businesses, research institutions, and profit-making entities. Foreign organizations, whether government or private, may participate as subrecipients in activities carried out by U.S. entities, but are not eligible for direct funding assistance from the program.

2. Proposals from research and consulting entities will be considered for funding assistance only with evidence of substantial participation in and financial support to the proposed project by U.S. industry. Such support is most credibly demonstrated through actual monetary contributions to the cost of the project.

3. For-profit entities shall not use program funds to conduct private business, promote private self-interests, or promote their own products or services beyond specific uses approved in a given project. For-profit entities shall not use program funds to supplement the costs of normal day-to-day operations.

Cost-share cooperative agreement for technical-assistance activities (market research, feasibility studies, trade missions, training) — reimbursement of project costs, not a payment to a farm.

• Ceiling: "Funding per award under EMP is limited to a maximum of $500,000. Applications that request more than $500,000 in total funding will not be considered." No minimum is stated. Note that Grants.gov's structured awardCeiling/awardFloor fields read "none" — that is an unpopulated data field, not a contradiction; the NOFO governs.

• Match: "Cost share is required for all applicants except for Federal, state, and local government agencies." For everyone else, "all other applications must include a recipient cost share element equal to at least 10 percent of the requested funds. Cost share may be actual cash invested or in-kind contributions to the project. Applications that do not meet this requirement will not be considered."

• Project length: "All other eligible entities may request funding for up to three years in a single application. After three years, the project is assumed to have proven its viability and must be continued by the recipient with its own or alternative sources of funding." Multi-year money may be released one year at a time, "subject to interim evaluations and funding availability."

• Portfolio limit: "the maximum number of active awards that a single EMP recipient can have underway at any given time is five."

• Program pool: "Total Available Federal Funding: Anticipated to be no more than $8 million."

Other hard limits: "No EMP application may target more than four countries." Indirect costs are reimbursable and a NICRA will be honored. Funds may not be used as matching contributions for other federal awards, for lobbying, or to promote branded products or a specific company.

Who this actually pays: U.S. trade associations, cooperatives, universities, research and consulting entities and government agencies — not individual producers. Research and consulting applicants need documented industry cash support to be competitive.

Each year, FAS announces the EMP application period and criteria in the Federal Register. U.S. non-profit, for-profit and government entities are all eligible to apply. Applicants submit proposals through the Unified Export Strategy (UES) process, which allows eligible organizations to request funding from multiple USDA market development programs through a single, strategically coordinated proposal.

Eligibility of Hemp and Hemp Products Under the FAS Market Development Programs

Federal Travel Regulation and the U.S. Open Skies Agreements

List of Restricted Countries - Prohibition of U.S. Assistance and Financing

General Pay Scale

FY 2023 Compliance Review Schedule - Market Development Programs

FY 2021 Compliance Review Schedule - Market Development Programs

FY 2020 Compliance Review Schedule - Market Development Programs

Emerging Markets Program Guidance

Amendment Request Template

• EMP Cost Category Description