U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC)

USSEC Northeast Asia recently collaborated with Japan’s Seven & i Holdings Group as part of its “Autumn Environmental Month” initiative to promote their efforts and products related to sustainable sourcing. For three days, staff promoted the Sustainable U.S. Soy label, found on Seven Premium brands of tofu bars and natto, to food shoppers in a Tokyo supermarket. Customers were invited to taste samples, learn cooking tips and hear about U.S. Soy’s sustainable advantages. The event marked the first time that U.S. soybean farmers’ environmentally and socially responsible practices were communicated downstream to the store level, educating consumers about how U.S. Soy contributes to addressing sustainability concerns in Japan. https://loom.ly/ynkXzTc #USSOY #sustainabilty

Tempe, a staple Indonesian soy food, has been nominated as a UNESCO cultural heritage food. The fermented soy dish delivers affordable protein to Indonesians, and consumption is consistently strong. USSEC proudly supports this vital industry in Indonesia. Providing technical support for using quality #USSOY to make tempe helps the industry thrive. https://loom.ly/OgTlO98

It’s #TradeTeamTuesday – Two Southeast Asia ag importer trade teams were on a mission to gain firsthand knowledge and see the U.S. soybean supply chain in action from production to export. Through meetings, briefings and facility tours, participants gained a better understanding of U.S. Soy quality standards, production volumes and sustainability practices, crucial for making informed purchasing decisions and ensuring a reliable supply chain. By visiting ports, export terminals and Bonneville Lock & Dam in Seattle and Vancouver, Washington, delegates gained a better understanding of soybean export logistics, which helps anticipate potential challenges and streamline supply chains. The team gained insights into U.S. soybean meal export operations and logistics at Port of Vancouver USA and Port of Grays Harbor through tours with key players including Ag Processing Inc. (AGP), Blue Water Shipping and United Grain Corporation. North Dakota Soybean Council provided a state briefing, highlighting production capabilities and quality standards. A visit to Kalama Export Company furthered their understanding of the export process and grain elevators’ role in facilitating international trade. Meanwhile, the Southeast Asia Feed Team visited soybean farms, grain elevators and crush plants to learn from U.S. Soy farmers and exporters about sustainable production and logistics. Delegates witnessed firsthand U.S. Soy’s commitment to growing, processing and exporting high-quality soybeans from farm to port. Stops at Agtegra Cooperative and Viterra US in Kimball, South Dakota, and AGP in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, took them behind the scenes of grain origination and processing. U.S. Soy farmers hosted in-depth discussions on sustainable production practices. Special thanks to Dawn Scheier, South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council Director, and Paul Kassel, Iowa Soybean Association Director. The team also gained insights into the ongoing U.S. soybean crush industry expansion with a visit to South Dakota Soybean Processors’ plant in Mitchell. Next it was on to San Francisco for #SoyConnext, where they learned the latest global market updates, engaged in networking and built new relationships in a series of one-on-one meetings as part of the Trade Team Invitational. The trips provided valuable insights into U.S. Soy from production to export, with a look into the logistics and infrastructure that support efficient delivery and an up-close view of how farmers produce high-quality, sustainable soybeans. These customers will leverage the information to make informed purchasing decisions and strengthen business relationships with U.S. Soy suppliers. #USSoy US Army Corps of Engineers  SD Soybean Research & Promotion Council/SD Soybean Association

Knowledge transfer from generation to generation is the foundation of sustainable farming. At #FoodPrize24, two United Soybean Board farmer-leaders from Iowa – Tim Bardole and April Hemmes – shared their family’s farming legacy and the commitment to preserve land for future generations. They sat alongside Alejandro Jaramillo Trujillo from Columbia, who’s participated in USSEC's Soy Excellence Center, and Sejiro Oke-Tojinu from Nigeria, who’s part of WISHH's aqua internship program, both of whom are no strangers to bridging generational learning in the industry. During the luncheon, they emphasized U.S. Soy’s essential role in global food and feed security by providing high-quality, nutrient-dense protein, which is a critical resource as the world races to feed over 9 billion people by 2050. The Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, held alongside the World Food Prize, is an inspiring event uniting global leaders and experts to continue Borlaug's legacy of innovation in agriculture and the fight against hunger. #SustainableAg #GlobalFoodSecurity #USSoy

USSEC recently exhibited at the SIAL International Food Exhibition in Paris, France. The annual event attracted exhibitors and visitors from over 200 countries and incorporated food sectors such as organic products, dairy, poultry and seafood. The international food show was the hub of food innovation, bringing together producers, distributors, restaurateurs and importers-exporters. Grower Leaders Jeff Magyar and Brad Macauley, along with USSEC staff members Brent Babb, Katie Reardon and Lola Herrera attended to network with current and potential international customers to highlight the U.S. Soy advantage, specifically as it pertains to sustainability and soy in human health. This year, SIAL featured 11 halls representing 10 food sectors, showcasing more than 400,000 products and innovations (including soy!) from over 7,500 exhibitors. It was great to be a part of such a successful event! Learn more about the human health benefits of U.S. Soy here: https://loom.ly/Jcb9J5Y #USSOY

USSEC's Southeast Asia team members were proud to recently host a group of 12 journalists from the IFAJ - International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) for an in-depth sustainability and aquaculture tour in Thailand. Thailand’s aquaculture sector has seen remarkable growth in the past two decades, driven by rising demand for sustainably produced and traceable seafood, adherence to global standards, and diversification into high-value species. During the tour, the journalists gained insights into the increasing role of soy-optimized fish feed, which now constitutes up to 30% of aquaculture diets. “The stories produced by the visiting journalists will be instrumental in raising global awareness about the sustainable advantages of U.S. Soy and USSEC’s contributions to the aquaculture industry in Thailand,” said Abby Rinne, USSEC Director of Sustainability. https://loom.ly/DXdsbAc #USSOY #sustainablefarming #aquaculture #IPRS

It’s #TradeTeamTuesday and today we’re traveling with the Middle East North Africa (MENA) Crushers Trade Team, who stopped in Virginia and Kentucky before traveling on to Soy Connext in San Francisco, California. The trip kicked off with a tour of the Virginia International Gateway container terminal, one of the country’s most modern ports in the supply chain, and one of the most sustainable, an increasing priority for the MENA region. The Gateway is powered by 100% clean electricity and has a goal of net-zero carbon by 2040. Then at the Perdue AgriBusiness facility in Chesapeake, the team got an inside look at the production and logistics efficiency within the U.S. Soy supply chain. Perdue’s facility features a grain storage terminal and soy crush plant including a deep-water vessel terminal with two berths and access to two nearby container terminals. After a hop over to Louisville, the team headed to CGB Enterprises, Inc.’ Jeffersonville, Indiana, rail, water and truck terminal on the Ohio River. With 38,000 tons of covered space, 90,000 tons of pad space and green space, the facility leverages its sophisticated network of assets to move U.S. Soy efficiently and reliably to our global customers. In Shelbyville, Kentucky, the team got an up-close and in-field look at sustainable U.S. Soy production on Matt Gajdzik’s farm. While Matt is a first-generation farmer, his wife Amanda comes from multiple generations of family farms, and the two have a great story of production innovation and commitment to sustainability. Shoutout to the Kentucky Soybean Board for their help facilitating the tour and hosting the team for lunch on the farm. From there the group continued on to #SoyConnext for market updates, networking and soy learning. One-on-one business meetings combined with education sessions and the Trade Team Invitational intersected for a perfect end to an information-packed trip. The team greatly appreciated the opportunity to build relationships, experience our supply chain and understand the true benefits U.S. Soy provides. The Port of Virginia #USSoy

We’re thrilled to celebrate the winners of the Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards as announced in Scotland at this year’s Global Seafood Alliance Responsible Seafood Summit! 🎉 USSEC sponsors these awards to recognize groundbreaking solutions to some of the biggest challenges in seafood today, across aquaculture and fisheries. 🏆 Aquaculture Winner: Tiny Fish Tiny Fish has transformed Scottish salmon farming with its focus on finding unique markets for small salmon which are typically too small to be raised at sea. Tiny Fish’s innovation ensures that every fish can be harvested and sold for nutritional value-added purposes. 🏆 Fisheries Winner: GenusWave GenusWave has developed a technology using species-specific startle sounds to keep seals, orcas, and other marine mammals away from fishing operations, reducing bycatch and noise pollution. These innovators are leading the way towards a more sustainable future for seafood. 🌍💡 #seafoodsummit24 #SustainableSeafood #Innovation #Aquaculture #ResponsibleSeafood #USSoy

As a proud sponsor of the Agri-Food Americas Summit in Chicago earlier this month, USSEC joined global leaders in the agri-food sector to tackle critical industry challenges. Among the key speakers was Tom D'Alfonso, USSEC’s Director of Animal Nutrition & Aquaculture, who underscored the importance of #USSOY for its superior nutrient content and its positive impact on financial performance for end users. He also emphasized the sustainability of U.S. Soy and its lowest carbon footprint compared to soy of other origins. Get more of Tom’s insights here: https://loom.ly/KmIQvDs #AgrifoodAmericas #Sustainability #AgInnovation

USDA’s latest report is a near repeat of last week: U.S. soybean harvest continues to progress rapidly with 81% of the #USSoy crop out of the fields. Weather conditions allowed for six or seven days conducive to field work across soybean-producing states and harvest is progressing well ahead of the 5-year average. USSEC Director Mike Koehne shares the view from his combine as he harvests a field of food grade soybeans in Indiana where 75% of the soybeans have been harvested. #harvest24