U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC)

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

It’s #TradeTeamTuesday – Today we’re spotlighting food and commodity teams from Korea who visited Indiana, Michigan and Nebraska for an in-person look at U.S. Soy benefits and advantages. Both teams followed up their field tours by attending Soy Connext in San Francisco, where they participated in one-on-one B2B meetings in the Trade Team Invitational, networked across the global industry and gained insight into key soybean supply chain issues and crop reports. As part of the Korea Commodity Team, 18 feed millers and crushers toured Nebraska for updates on U.S. Soy sustainability, increased U.S. soybean meal export availability and the state’s crush plant boom. They also heard about the planned export facility expansion at critical Pacific Northwest Port of Grays Harbor. At AGP, the delegation toured the processor’s Omaha facilities, then United Soybean Board Vice Chair Ed Lammers shared updates on new crush plant construction and the 2024 soybean crop. During Nebraska Extension’s Soybean Management Field Day, the team heard from researchers about ongoing soybean field trials and observed growing conditions and sustainable farming practices. Up next was the Nebraska Department of Agriculture where Jordan Schlake, Nebraska Agricultural Trade Representative, gave an overview of the state’s agricultural diversity. Meanwhile, the 11 soy food manufacturers on the Korea Soy Food Team learned about crop condition, non-GM food-bean varieties and the soybean market outlook in Indiana and Michigan. Grower leaders Walt and Kevin Kelley of Kelley Ridge Farms; Gary Parr; and Jim Lilly hosted the team on their U.S. Soy farms for discussions about the growing season and their sustainable farming practices. At Pence Group, they heard about non-GMO and organic soybean seed and marketing, and at Corteva, learned about seed management and soybean genetics. Michigan State University researchers provided an update on the latest developments in plant breeding, genetics, crop management and soil fertility. Visits to IOM Grain and Star Of The West Milling Company brought insights into food-grade soybean cleaning, packaging and processing. Special thanks to the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Michigan Soybean Committee and Nebraska Soybean Board for their help coordinating these tours. Both trade teams improved their understanding of U.S. Soy benefits and the soy market outlook, leaving with vital information for making informed soybean purchasing decisions. #USSoy

The U.S. soybean harvest continues to progress rapidly with about two-thirds, or 67%, of the U.S. Soy crop out of the fields. Most regions saw increases in harvested acres that align with the national jump in the past week and USDA reports harvest is progressing ahead of the 5-year average of 51% at this point in the season. USSEC Director Cindy Pulskamp talks about her unseasonably warm soybean harvest in North Dakota where 76% of the soybeans have been harvested. #harvest24 #USSoy

It’s #TradeTeamTuesday – Let’s travel with the New Zealand Buyers Trade Team, which visited key export terminals in Washington, then continued on to Soy Connext in San Francisco for individual B2B meetings, networking, global industry updates and learning. New Zealand Trade Team members are interested in importing more soybean meal and are very interested in the nutritional quality and sustainability of U.S. soybean meal. At EGT’s Export Grain Terminal, the team gained insights into the logistics of transporting soybean meal from production to export and the inner workings of an export terminal. They learned how EGT maintains a clean loading operation while handling multiple products through their state-of-the-art export loading facility. EGT’s rail loop can hold six-unit trains without having to break them up, providing extreme efficiency. The tour carried on with a visit to BNSF Railway for a look into its history and operations, highlighting its activities and capabilities in the Pacific Northwest, then a tour of Ag Processing Inc’s facilities at Port of Grays Harbor, where the team went behind the scenes of the terminal and learned about AGP’s close work with Blue Water Shipping. A visit to TEMCO furthered understanding of the U.S. Soy export process and the role of grain elevators in facilitating international trade. The group gained valuable insights into the U.S. soybean industry from production to export with a focus on logistics, quality control, loading and shipping. The New Zealand Buyers team members left with more knowledge and confidence in the U.S. soybean meal value chain, and the trip helped them build relationships with growers, traders, loading facilities, logistics providers and USSEC employees and consultants #USSoy Cargill CHS Inc.

The U.S. Soybean Export Council had the privilege of co-hosting a series of events with Pan Pacific Hanoi to celebrate Singapore National Day in August while showcasing the versatility and benefits of U.S. Soy. The highlight of the event was the Merlion Dining Tour – Taste of Singapore, where decision-makers from the hotel, U.S. Soy product suppliers, and representatives from Southeast Asian embassies gathered for an intimate dinner. USSEC was proud to introduce U.S. Soy and its applications in local products, such as those from Ichiban Foods, Janbee, Dau An, and more. Chef Zack Truong, Executive Chef of Pan Pacific Hanoi and a Continental Worldchefs judge, crafted a delightful menu featuring U.S. Soy products, showcasing their versatility. Soy consumption is rising in Vietnam, fueled by a young population, a growing middle class, and the shift towards plant-based diets. Soy products are becoming a staple in modern Vietnamese life, blending tradition, health, and sustainability. Whether it’s tofu, soy milk, or plant-based meats, soy is set to play an increasingly significant role in Vietnam’s evolving food culture. USSEC is excited for this collaboration and to continue strengthening U.S. Soy’s presence in Vietnam and the Southeast Asia region. #USSEC #USDA #USSoy #Sustainability #SoyFood Timothy Loh Ralph Bean