The Office of Agricultural Policy, led by Office Director Melissa Kehoe, supports and advances American agricultural interests, which are integral to the State Department’s critical global trade and food security goals. We address trade barriers to open markets for American farm products. In Fiscal Year 2015, the United States exported $133 billion in agricultural products and a trade surplus of $19 billion for the agricultural sector. We contribute to the development of effective food aid policies, promote rural development and increasing agricultural productivity through biotechnology, and handle commodity issues such as cotton and coffee. We work to ensure the health and well-being of our consumers by monitoring food safety, animal health, and plant health. On food security, we bring stakeholders and policymakers together to address the needs of small scale farmers. Additionally, our office leads new agricultural technologies outreach to promote transparent, predictable, and science-based regulatory frameworks.