Capitol Notebook: Iowa Gov. Reynolds observes trade talks, meets government leaders during India trade mission

DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds met with Indian government leaders, delivered a keynote address and observed agreements designed to strengthen Iowa’s trade relationship with India during a recent eight-day trade mission, according to the governor’s office.

Reynolds plus a 20-person Iowa delegation — including Iowa Agriculture Sec. Mike Naig, Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham, and Iowa agriculture, business and education leaders — completed the trade mission this past weekend.

In a news release issued this week, Reynolds drew a historical comparison to Dr. Norman Borlaug, the Iowa native scientist and Nobel Prize winner whose research in the 1940s and 1950s helped exponentially increase farmers’ food production.

“Over six decades ago, Dr. Norman Borlaug collaborated with Indian scientists in Delhi to kick-start the Green Revolution, saving more than a billion lives in the process. This foundational link between Iowa and India grows even stronger today, as evidenced by our second mission to strengthen ongoing trade partnerships and explore new investments,” Reynolds said in the release.

“Iowa’s agricultural innovation, top-tier research institutes, cutting-edge ag-tech startups, and established ag companies make us an ideal partner for India. Likewise, Indian companies are attracted to Iowa as a place to expand operations, tap into a flourishing ecosystem of innovation, and leverage a central location to access the broader American market,” Reynolds added. “By combining Iowa’s ag expertise with India’s scale, talent, and growing market, we can create new pathways to feed and fuel the world.”

During the mission, Reynolds and the Iowa delegation visited New Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai, and met with the country’s government, agriculture and industry leaders, according to the governor’s office.

Reynolds met with India Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar and India Minister of Commerce Goyal; participated in roundtable discussions with the Sehgal Foundation, the U.S.-India Business Council, the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council; and visited Praj Industries, an Indian leader in bio-based technologies, and Baramati Agro, an emerging international exporter of ethanol, to explore trade opportunities and advancements in ethanol production, the governor’s office said.

Reynolds during the trip signed a state partnership agreement between Iowa and Maharashtra, India, which is intended to “deepen cooperation in key sectors including agriculture, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, education and renewable energy,” and “promote cultural exchanges, workforce development, and mutual investment opportunities,” the release said.

Reynolds also observed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Iowa Biotechnology Association and India’s Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises, a nonprofit body that represents various industries including agribiotech and industrial biotech fields, the governor’s office said.

And Reynolds delivered a keynote address at DialogueNEXT, a series sponsored by the World Food Prize Foundation showcasing leaders who promote global food security, according to the governor’s office.

State issues butchery grants

Nine state grants totaling $355,000, designed to help small-scale meat processing in Iowa, were issued by the Iowa agriculture department, the state announced.

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Projects awarded through the state’s Choose Iowa grant program include new smokehouses, freezer systems, expanded processing lines, and the replacement or modernization of vital equipment, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

“Choose Iowa is growing rapidly as more Iowans seek fresh, local products and more farmers and food businesses recognize the networking and promotional benefits offered to members,” Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said in a press release.

“These grants are helping small meat processors across Iowa expand their operations to better serve both producers and customers. Iowa’s livestock industry depends on accessible, high-quality processing, and these projects are a smart investment in that infrastructure,” Naig added. “The strong demand for this Choose Iowa program also shows just how competitive these grants were, with far more applications than funding available. We’re proud to support these hardworking small businesses and look forward to seeing their continued growth.”

The Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant was created by the Iowa Legislature in 2024 and replaces a previous, similar program. The state has allocated $250,000 each of the last two state budget years to the program. Grants are awarded up to $100,000 and require at least a one-to-one financial match.

The program received 23 grant requests totaling more than $1.5 million, according to the state ag department. The $355,000 awarded will leverage a total investment of nearly $2 million across nine counties, according to the state.

The awarded projects are in Afton, Cherokee, Des Moines, Holstein, Milo, Sutherland, West Bend, Winthrop and Yetter. More information on the newly awarded projects and the grant application process can be found on the Choose Iowa program’s website, chooseiowa.com.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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