Press Release

CNFA and Trécé Join Forces to Protect Georgian Hazelnut Crop

Conference to bring together scientists from both nations to combat BMSB infestation

WASHINGTON, D.C., AND ADAIR, OK — Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), an international agricultural development non-profit organization, and Trécé Inc., a leading American manufacturer of insect monitoring systems and pheromones, announced they will convene a one-week mission beginning March 5, 2018 aimed at improving efforts to combat the brown marmorated stinkbug (BMSB) infestation that threatens hazelnuts and other crops in western regions of the country of Georgia.

The mission will be conducted in Georgia with the joint support of Trécé and Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production (REAP), a five-year, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project implemented by CNFA that harnesses private investment and technical assistance to improve rural livelihoods through enterprise development.

The primary objective of the mission is to develop better ways to manage the pest on the 75,000 hectares of hazelnuts grown by 60,000—mostly small—growers, as well as in citrus orchards and cornfields farmed by the country’s smallholders.

To that end, scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and three U.S. universities will travel to Georgia to meet with Georgian counterparts, exchange knowledge and expertise, and participate in field visits to several regions that were severely affected by BMSB in 2017. A conference slated to convene March 8, 2018 will provide a forum to encourage knowledge-sharing.

“This mission epitomizes the kind of public-private cooperation that we at CNFA rely on to support our mission,” said CNFA President and CEO Sylvain Roy. “It is gratifying to see partners like Trécé go the extra distance to contribute to our efforts to improve the agricultural and technical skills of our clients.”

CNFA, which has directed the REAP project in Georgia since 2013, last year selected Trécé to provide two large shipments of its PHEROCON® insect kits (lures and traps) to protect Georgia’s hazelnut sector and safeguard other key agricultural products. The project was expanded last year in response to the infestation.

Trécé CEO and founder, Bill Lingren will travel to Georgia to take an active role in the mission.

“Trécé is pleased to help pave the way for scientists from both countries to join together to observe this infestation on site, gather new information, and develop better ways to fight this pest,” Lingren said. “By partnering to fine-tune and improve the ways we combat BMSB, Trécé is not only helping protect Georgian farmers and their crops, but also improving our own technology and our technical approaches, which ultimately benefits our business, our employees, and the communities who depend on us.”

Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Mr. Brock Bierman, visited USAID / REAP Georgia supported Drying Facility Farconi, LTD.