USSEC at Work

August 19-21, United States: Journalists from India and Sri Lanka were among the Soy Connext attendees who sought more information on the U.S. soybean industry and sustainability practices. Ricky Thaper of Poultry Creations (pictured, right) was particularly interested in hearing about innovative soy production shared by Lance Rezac, USSEC Chair and Kansas farmer (pictured, left). Thaper’s article highlighted the exceptional quality, sustainability and overall value that sets U.S. Soy apart, and shared Rezac’s emphasis on the importance of blending technology with sustainable practices. Another article from LankaTalks also highlighted U.S. Soy’s sustainability and called out the importance of U.S. soybean meal to Sri Lanka and the region. Abby Rinne, USSEC Director of Sustainability, and Kevin Roepke USSEC Regional Director for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, were interviewed with Roepke praising Sri Lanka’s sustainability efforts. The country has been a pioneer in the South Asia region for adoption of the Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy label.

August 13-14, Panama: At the VI International Aquaculture Feed Formulation Database (IAFFD) Workshop in Panama City, USSEC Americas welcomed representatives from aquaculture feed plants representing eight countries in the region. Participants worked intensively on sustainable feed formulation and production with a goal of meeting the growing market demand for aquaculture feed products and contributing to natural resource conservation. Special thanks to collaborators and U.S. Soy growers from Indiana Soybean Alliance and Nebraska Soybean Board for making this event possible. This effort is significant given current challenges to aquaculture profitability, especially aqua feed ingredient cost fluctuation.

August 7, Philippines: USSEC Southeast Asia collaborated with the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) identity-preserved (IP) delegation for a series of meetings with food manufacturers, traders and business associations as part of a regional workshop promoting high-quality U.S. grains and oilseeds, along with the U.S. IP Assurance Plan and brand label program. Miracle Soybean, a premium supplier of fresh and chilled soy products, hosted the group for discussions focused on the Philippines soy and soy beverage industry as well as SSGA’s IP program and IP farming in the U.S. The team also observed plant operations during the visit.

August, Japan: USSEC Northeast Asia launched a campaign in Japan in August 2024 to expand consumption of U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP)-verified tofu and increase awareness of U.S. soybeans through retail promotions. By partnering with major Japanese tofu brands, the initiative promotes SSAP-labeled tofu, encourages U.S. soybean use and demonstrates the benefits of SSAP verification. Tactics include recipes and digital media promotion as well as in-store demos. Results will be shared with other brands, positioning these as successful case studies to increase the number of SSAP-verified products in the tofu industry and beyond. This is especially important as stricter sustainability and environmental regulations drive companies to enhance their social responsibility and stakeholder recognition in Japan’s food supply chain.

Spotlight: Post-Soy Connext Trade Teams

Who: 6 trade team visits after attending Soy Connext

What: Provide an opportunity for international customers to personally connect and build relationships with U.S. soybean farmers and value chain partners

Why: Enrich international customers’ understanding of the many benefits U.S. Soy provides through visits to key links in the supply chain, including soybean farms, elevators and terminals, processors, mills, crush plants and export facilities

When: Late August, following Soy Connext in San Francisco 

Where: 9 states (marked in yellow) – California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Washington, Wisconsin

Post-Soy Connext Trade Teams:

• Northern Europe | Wisconsin
  Inside view of an international airport logistics center and a Great Lakes grain port and terminal, plus visits to a Wisconsin soybean farm and grain elevator
  
  
• Southern Europe | Illinois
  Insights on global and state market projections, paired with tours of a rural grain elevator and an Illinois soybean farm
  
  
• Greater China and Taiwan Soy Foods | Ohio
  Interactions with academia, government, Ohio soybean farmers and elevators to hear the story of how U.S. Soy advances soy food production and innovation
  
  
• China Commodity (Pro Farmer Crop Tour) | Minnesota - North Dakota
  U.S.-China Industry Partner Event followed by a full view of the U.S. Soy supply chain including Minnesota and North Dakota soybean farms, grain terminal, department of agriculture, grain elevator, grain processor and shuttle loading facility visits
  
  
• New Zealand Buyers | Washington
  Behind the scenes of America’s thriving Pacific Northwest export corridor, with visits to a grain terminal, port, rail terminal, processor, shipper and grain elevator
  
  
• Japan Commodity | Indiana - Kentucky
  Grain production and logistics in the Heartland of America, from U.S. Soy production on Indiana and Kentucky soybean farms to logistics at elevators, river ports and a lock and dam facility

Key Points to Know about Trade Teams:

• Teams learn in-depth insights about U.S. Soy quality, sustainability and reliability.
  
  
• U.S. Soy farmers welcome teams at the height of the growing season and share their sustainable farming practices, crop destinations, market updates and commitment to sustainable contributions toward global food security.
  
  
• These experiences wouldn’t be possible without collaborations with value chain partners including state soybean associations, academic institutions and U.S. soybean farmers.
  
  
• International customers report deeper understanding of the U.S. Soy industry, supply chain, market outlook and the many benefits of U.S. soybeans and related products.

On David and Ardie Black’s Ohio soybean farm, the China Soy Foods Trade Team learned how soybean-corn rotation can help reduce fertilizer use, which resonated with the team members’ greater emphasis on sustainable sourcing.

Japanese crushers, feed millers and importers on the Japan Commodity Trade Team experienced how U.S. Soy moves via rail, road and river through facilities like this Consolidated Grain and Barge Company terminal in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

The New Zealand Buyers Trade Team learned about the logistics of transporting soybean meal from field to port through a behind-the-scenes tour of Export Grain Terminal in Longview, Washington, a state-of-the-art facility built for efficiency with the capability to hold six-unit trains without having to break them up.

The China Commodity Trade Team helped with scouting on Jeff Ignaszeski’s Minnesota soybean farm, giving them a firsthand look at this year’s U.S. Soy crop.