In a landmark tour, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Trade Team from South Asia, comprising delegates from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, alongside delegates from Nigeria in Sub-Saharan Africa, visited the heart of the U.S. soybean industry.
Their journey, organized by USSEC, spanned for a week and involved insightful discussions with industry leaders, hands-on farm visits in Missouri and Illinois States and participation in the highly anticipated Global U.S. Soy Summit, “Soy Connext” in San Francisco, California.
Highlights of the U.S. Soybean Industry Tour Mr. Kevin Roepke, Regional Director for South Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa, USSEC, in the beginning of the tour gave an engaging presentation outlining the team’s schedule.
The program featured visits to soybean farms, grain elevator facilities in St. Louis, Missouri, and Bloomington, Illinois, and an exploration of river lock dam facilities. The visiting Delegation engaged directly with U.S. Soy industry leaders, gaining in-depth knowledge of the nation’s soybean value chain.
The delegation’s visit to the Cargill Grain Elevator Facility in St. Louis offered a unique opportunity to understand the large-scale operations that make U.S. soybeans a dominant force in the global market.
Ms. April Sloan, Plant Manager at Cargill, provided a comprehensive tour, showcasing the latest technological innovations in grain storage and export operations.
Further enhancing the delegation’s understanding of cutting-edge agricultural practices, the team visited the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Missouri. Here, more than 400 scientists work towards improving global nutrition through crop innovation. Mr. Mike Manson, Development Officer at the center, led the group through the facility, introducing them to pioneering research aimed at addressing global food security challenges.
In Illinois, the delegation was welcomed by Mr. Jerry Gaffner and Mr. Scott Gaffner, third-generation farmers at Gaffner Family Farm, where they observed sustainable soybean and corn farming practices.
The Gaffner family’s dedication to mechanization and environmental stewardship exemplifies the leading role of U.S. farmers in advancing sustainable agriculture.
The visit to Riddell Farm in Sparland, Illinois, continued the delegation’s immersion into advanced farming methods. Mr. Jay Riddell, a fourth-generation farmer, shared the farm’s success in utilizing mechanization to boost crop yields while prioritizing sustainability.
This visit was further enriched by the participation of Ms. Eileen Pabst, International Markets Manager at the Illinois Soybean Association, and Mr. Mark Read, Vice Chairman of the Global Soy Excellence Center Steering Committee, who provided valuable insights into global agricultural practices.
Global U.S. Soy Summit “Soy Connext”: At the Global U.S. Soy Summit “Soy Connext” in San Francisco, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) hosted over 800 international buyers and sellers from 62 countries. This major event highlighted the strengths of the U.S. soybean industry, with U.S. farmers projected to produce 4.6 billion bushels of soybeans for the 2024/25 crop, marking an 11% increase from the previous year.
A key feature of the summit was the emphasis on sustainability. The Sustainable U.S. Soy (SUSS) label, which promotes products verified by the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP), received significant attention. Rosalind Leeck, USSEC Executive Director, highlighted the growing demand for the SUSS label, with 25 companies recognized at the event for their commitment to sustainability and adoption of the label. The SUSS label, now featured on over 1,000 products globally, reflects U.S. Soy’s commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship. The summit underscored the importance of collaboration and data-driven insights in advancing sustainable agricultural practices and meeting global nutritional needs.
USSEC Chair Lance Rezac remarked, “It’s truly a humbling experience to bring so many key customers from around the world together to meet with U.S. exporters and expand their understanding of the value U.S. Soy offers.
Compared to recent years, the price is right for buyers to benefit from U.S. Soy’s many advantages. While soybeans are sold as a commodity oilseed, U.S. Soy is recognized for its premium quality, which enhances operational efficiencies for livestock farms, feed mills, and oil crushers, introduces better flavor profiles in the soy foods sector, and exemplifies on-farm stewardship with the lowest carbon footprint. Events like “Soy Connext” are essential for showcasing these strengths and fostering global collaboration.”
Ms. Anja Manuel, Cofounder and Partner of Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, at the Soy Connext Conference, gave us a glimpse of geopolitics around the world. Ms. Manuel said that it will continue to be a wild ride, but she believes our best days are still ahead of us.
A Collaborative Future: Mr. Jim Sutter, CEO of USSEC, expressed the importance of the summit, saying, “Soy Connext” serves as a platform for unveiling new data and fostering collaboration. Our technical experts help global customers understand how U.S. soy, with its superior feed conversion ratios and sustainability credentials, is an essential partner in addressing the world’s growing protein needs.”
Mr. Kevin Roepke, Regional Director for South Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa, USSEC, said “Soy Connext” is the flagship event for the US Soybean Export Council. Our signature adjunct team tours scatter throughout the United States to showcase the sustainable soybean crop by highlighting the transportation/logistics capabilities, agronomy innovation and explains the incredible value proposition of US soy.
US Soy has intrinsic characteristics which set it apart from the world like lower moisture and damage and higher digestibility and metabolizable energy. The delegates were able to interact with farmers to lean how this is possible and what make US soy so unique. Together, our industries were able to build stronger relationships; and by collaboration and connection at events like this, we can nourish the world.
Throughout the course of history, we’ve seen that leaning into trade has been a major impetus to achieving rapid economic growth. Moreover, the US is not only the world’s largest exporter of food but also the largest importer. This paradox highlights the need for looking at global markets to increase consumer choice and build more resilient and sustainable food supply chains”
During the event, Mr. Naveen Pasuparthy, President of the Karnataka Poultry Breeders and Farmers Association (KPBFA), signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USSEC to promote the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) program in Karnataka State. The Soy Excellence Center (SEC) are already offering free online courses in India, including the SEC India Poultry Production and Management course and the Feed Milling Basic Certificate Course.
As the poultry industry increasingly requires skilled experts, this initiative is vital in preparing the next generation to sustain and advance the sector.
Mr. Jaison John, Team Lead – India at USSEC, further elaborated on the vital role U.S. Soy can play in enhancing food security for India’s vast population amidst inflationary pressures. “Ensuring nutritional security for India’s population of 1.4 billion is a significant challenge, but U.S. Soy can be a vital partner in this effort,” he said. “With its high-quality protein and versatile food applications, U.S. Soy can enhance food security, support sustainable agriculture, empower local communities, and foster economic growth.”
At the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) Global Advisory Panel meeting, Ms. Tori Sorensen, Chairperson of SEC, welcomed the attendees, which included leadership from USSEC, state soybean associations, and SEC Regional Advisory Council members from across the globe. Mr. Mark Read, Vice Chairman of SEC, updated the panel on ongoing activities, while committee chairs reviewed the budgets allocated to SEC initiatives. The meeting ended with the closing comments from Mr. Jim Sutter, CEO, USSEC.
Dr. Vijay Anand, Center Lead – India, Soy Excellence Center, highlighted the SEC’s alignment with India’s “Skills India” program. Launched in January 2024, SEC in India has already introduced specialized courses in poultry, feed-milling, and soy foods, marking significant progress in industry skill development. Dr. Vijay emphasized that India’s large animal husbandry and soy foods sectors require significant workforce training, and SEC’s globally sourced expertise is helping prepare young professionals for the challenges and opportunities in these sectors.
The U.S. tour and Global Soy Summit “Soy Connext” have highlighted the U.S. soybean industry’s dedication to sustainability and innovation. The insights and experiences gained are set to greatly impact efforts to promote U.S. soy in South Asia and beyond. The support and hospitality from the U.S. Soybean Export Council has been invaluable, driving advancements in global nutritional security and fostering stronger international collaborations.
