Support of the French tobacco sector in mechanization of Burley tobacco

FOUNDATION will provide recommendations, analysis and assessment regarding mechanical burley tobacco harvesting and cured leaf processing during 2013 as follows: 1. FOUNDATION will provide assistance in monitoring the tobacco curing process in mechanically harvested racks during September - October 2013 in France. 2. FOUNDATION will provide assistance in analyzing tobacco producers' practices during the 2013 curing process. 3. FOUNDATION will provide a comprehensive report describing the key points of the curing technical management. 4. FOUNDATION will propose a new concept for manufacturing and utilizing curing racks in order to decrease the production costs. 5. FOUNDATION will provide a report describing development of an experimental system being developed by the University of Kentucky for preparing whole air-cured burley tobacco plants for marketing. 6. FOUNDATION will welcome a French delegation to the U.S. to observe operation of the experimental market preparation system. 7. FOUNDATION will organize in the U.S., a meeting of the French delegation and researchers at University of Kentucky for the Burley tobacco, and North Carolina State University for the Virginia (flue-cured) tobacco, in order to exchange information concerning the U.S production techniques, specifications, and varieties that could be tested in France. 8. FOUNDATION will organize a visit of a French delegation to a tobacco stemmery in the U.S.