Robert Maddock, associate professor in the animal sciences department, assisted ranchers and meat processors in the Republic of Georgia from March 14 to 25. The trip was part of Farmer-to-Farmer, a United States Agency for International Development project.

Maddock met with ranchers and worked with a small meat processor to improve sanitation and develop meat products using existing resources and technology.

The project was conducted in the Aspindza region of Georgia, a rural and mountainous area. While there, Maddock stayed with a host family and experienced the diverse Georgian culture.

 The John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program provides voluntary technical assistance to farmers, farm groups and agribusinesses in developing and transitional countries to promote sustainable improvements in food security and agricultural processing, production and marketing. The program relies on the expertise of volunteers from U.S. farms, land grant universities, cooperatives, private agribusinesses and non-profit farm organizations to respond to the local needs of host-country farmers and organizations.