LITTLE ROCK, AR – Arkansas hosted a delegation of 33 international agricultural attachés from 24 countries this week in conjunction with the 2025 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Annual Meeting.
The attachés represented nations across the globe, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, the European Union, France, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Their visit highlighted Arkansas’s diverse agricultural production, research, and innovation while strengthening international agricultural trade relationships.
“Arkansas is one of the top farming states and the nation’s leading rice producer,” said Governor Sanders. “Meeting with some of the best and brightest agricultural leaders from around the world was an opportunity to share ideas, strengthen trade, and highlight the role Arkansas farmers play in feeding the world. It’s conversations like these that help farmers enter new markets, help countries reduce dependence on China, and ensure Arkansas agriculture remains a global leader.”
“We were honored to welcome this distinguished group to Arkansas,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “This visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase Arkansas’s farmers, agribusinesses, and research institutions while building stronger connections with international markets.”
On Monday, the delegation met with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders before the official kickoff of the NASDA Annual Meeting. Throughout the week, they toured Walmart and Tyson Foods headquarters, the Market Center of the Ozarks, and the University of Arkansas, including the Freight Farm Project, food science laboratory, Center for Arkansas Farms and Food, Agricultural Experiment Station, and Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences.
The delegation also participated in stakeholder discussions at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture in Little Rock and visited Isbell Farms to learn more about Arkansas rice production and international trade opportunities.
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Media Contact: Ayden Duncan, (501) 813-6012
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