Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture - CNFA

10/13/2026

CNFA’s Sahar Al-Rufai joined U.S. and Armenian leaders on October 8 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia’s independence and celebrate the enduring relationship between Armenia and the United States. For CNFA, the occasion was particularly meaningful given our longstanding work in Armenia and across the Caucasus to strengthen agricultural enterprises, expand access to finance and investment, and connect producers and businesses to new markets. From supporting Armenia’s agricultural private sector to helping build commercial and trade linkages with the United States, we are proud to contribute to a relationship increasingly grounded in economic opportunity, investment, and trade.

10/08/2026

Today, CNFA’s Andrea Jewett participated in a Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) roundtable with U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen, U.S. government officials, and business leaders.

The discussion explored opportunities to expand U.S.–Bangladesh trade and investment, including U.S. agricultural exports, and the practical challenges businesses face in bringing those opportunities to market.

For CNFA, these conversations underscore the importance of strengthening agricultural trade and building lasting commercial relationships between the United States and Bangladesh.

10/02/2026

Applications for the 2026 cohort of AgriChampions are now open!

The AGCO Foundation Youth AgriChampion Program, implemented by CNFA, aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders and innovators in U.S. agriculture by providing young professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to overcome key barriers to youth engagement in agriculture.

The 12 cohort inductees, over the course of a year, will receive structured feedback and mentorship, peer learning opportunities, and access to seed funding to support the development of food systems innovations.

Applications close October 30th, so apply now!

Click here to access the Request for Applications (RFA), RFA Number: CNFA-AGCO-2026-002.

08/07/2026

CNFA is honored to join the inaugural Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Gals Network. Representing CNFA, Andrea Jewett joined an inspiring community of women from across the agricultural sector to build connections, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions to today's agricultural challenges.

The GAP Gals Network creates opportunities for networking, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and professional growth, goals that closely align with CNFA's commitment to advancing agriculture through collaboration, leadership, and strong partnerships.

We look forward to supporting this growing network and the women who are helping shape the future of agriculture

07/31/2026

Earlier this week, the American Soybean Association's World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) partnered with Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) through Amalima Loko, a U.S. Government-funded program, to host a U.S. Soy Trade Seminar for feed industry stakeholders in Zimbabwe. The seminar introduced feed industry leaders and potential buyers to the value of U.S. soy, its potential to strengthen Zimbabwe's livestock sector, and opportunities to connect directly with U.S. suppliers. WISHH experts shared insights on soy's role in poultry production, feed formulation, procurement trends, and global supply chains. This seminar marks an important step in strengthening the WISHH–CNFA partnership in Zimbabwe, expanding awareness of U.S. soy as a high-quality, reliable feed ingredient, and supporting the long-term growth of Zimbabwe's feed industry.

07/03/2026

Wishing everyone a happy July 4th weekend from CNFA!

04/21/2026

Farm Service Centers (FSCs) are CNFA’s market-oriented, private sector solution to reach last-mile markets where quality inputs and services are often inaccessible.

These commercially operated one-stop shops retail seeds, fertilizers, crop protection products, machinery, and technologies directly to farming communities—creating new entry points for American inputs and products and empowering farmers to improve their incomes and livelihoods.

Over the last 20+ years, we’ve established more than 200 FSCs in seven countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

04/14/2026

CNFA and AGCO Corporation recently brought together our 2026 AgriChampions in Duluth, Georgia, where young entrepreneurs pitched their ideas and received feedback from industry mentors.

The AGCO Foundation Youth AgriChampion Program invests in the next generation of U.S. agricultural leaders—supporting young farmers and innovators who are building businesses, improving farm productivity, and bringing new technologies to American agriculture. Each participant receives mentorship, leadership training, and seed funding to launch or scale projects with real impact on their farms, businesses, and communities.

04/01/2026

Under the USDA-funded MOCA program, CNFA monetized 17,200 MT of U.S. crude degummed soybean oil worth $8.5 million and facilitated the first exports of quality Ivorian cocoa directly to U.S. chocolatiers—creating a new trade channel for American manufacturers seeking diversified, high-quality sourcing.

The program generated $26.8 million in annual sales for local cocoa farmers, improved production practices across 15,000+ hectares, established 15 new public private partnerships, and leveraged an additional $2.5 million in public and private investment.