SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US — The US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is hosting Soy Connext, the global industry US soy summit, bringing together more than 600 industry representatives, including international customers of US soy from over 50 countries with US farmers and businesses this week in San Diego, California, US.
“Soy Connext, the industry’s premier global summit, will catalyze connections between international customers of US soy from the animal protein, aquaculture, animal nutrition, edible oil, soy foods and commodity trading sectors, with US Soy farmers and industry,” said Jim Sutter, chief executive officer of the USSEC. “With the level of volatility in the world today, it takes vision, resilience, and partnerships to succeed in food and agriculture today. At Soy Connext, we will explore insights, trends, and strengthen our collaborations to advance global nutrition, climate-forward solutions, and progress for people and communities.”
USSEC, which runs Aug. 22-24, also will launch the Soybean Value Calculator, a tool for soybean crushers to calculate and compare the economic value of soybeans from various countries. Customers can enter company specific data along with soybean composition and physical factor data to analyze the potential economic benefit of choosing US soy relative to soy of other origins.
As part of Soy Connext, customers from 38 countries will visit US soy farms across 14 soy-producing states to transparently engage with farmers, inspect the crop and discuss challenges, needs and opportunities. Further, the USSEC, on behalf of US soy, is the international sponsor of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, providing its customers with credible, third-party and real-time analysis of US soy crop quality directly from soy production sites across the United States. Customers and exporter companies will also participate in USSEC's Trade Team Invitational.
Soy Connext will cover the following topics among others:
- Macro dynamics — inflation, or commodity super-cycle
- Shifting vegetable oil market
- Sustainability in the global feed industry
- Plant-Based Proteins: Consumer Trends & Opportunities
- Sourcing specialty food grade & IP beans
- Live reports on 2022 #USSoy crop ahead of #Harvest22
Noteworthy global speakers at Soy Connext include:
- Matt Ammerman, commodity risk manager and vice president, Eastern Europe and Black Sea region, StoneX
- Erik Noland, executive director and senior economist, CME Group
- Emily French, chief executive officer, Global Ag Protein
- Anja Manuel, co-founder, Rice, Hadley, Gates and Manuel, LLC
- Marty Ruikka, president, The Pro Exporter Network
- Tom Vierhile, vice president - Strategic Insights (North America), Innova Market Insights
Other event participants include US soy farmers representing the American Soybean Association, United Soybean Board, state soy boards, related food and agriculture industry and commodity exporters, among others.
"Climatic, economic, and geopolitical events are testing the resilience of the global food system. Uncertainty is the word of the day. We are honored that international companies are rewarding sustainable US soy's lowest carbon footprint, optimal nutritional bundle, high refining rate, low refining cost and reliable production and exports by importing record volumes to advance food and nutrition security in the 82 countries we serve," said Doug Winter, chairperson of USSEC, member of the United Soybean Board, and US soy farmer from Illinois.
The USSEC, based in Chesterfield, Missouri, US, focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of US soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in more than 80 countries. The USSEC is funded by the US Soybean Checkoff, US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service matching funds and industry.
