![Five people stand in a soybean field in Illinois.](https://www.wishh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/WISHHIFT-1024x768.jpg)
The ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program sponsored the participation of trade team members from Latin America and Asia at the prestigious Institute of Food Technologists’ Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology trade show last week. IFT FIRST, the leading trade show for global ingredients, brings together researchers, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs from across the global food value chain to discuss scientific solutions and food innovation. It provided the trade team members the chance to engage with more than 1,000 exhibitors displaying the latest innovations in technology and ingredients, notably including U.S. soy.
The conference enabled Nicaraguan, El Salvadoran, and Sri Lankan business leaders to discuss new ingredients and discover different applications for their existing ingredients, broadening their perspectives on the potential of soy in food production.
Beyond the conference, the Sri Lankan trade team members visited the farm of WISHH Committee Member Mark Read in Putnam, Illinois. This visit offered them an in-depth look at sustainable soybean farming in the United States and understand how farmers grow high-quality soy.
Additionally, the Sri Lankans stopped by the Delong Company’s container loading facility, gaining a deeper understanding of container transportation. The company showed visitors the infrastructure and logistics in shipping soy destined for global markets.
“This trade team was a great approach for us,” said Athula Mahagamage, WISHH’s Sri Lanka in-country representative. “For example, the largest food processors from Sri Lanka and key decision-makers are here, and they are face to face with experts on soy food production. It will certainly help move the needle.” Mahagamage noted that the Illinois Soybean Association sponsored the participation of trade team members from Sri Lanka to show the quality of U.S. soy in food ingredients.
Additionally, trade team members from Latin America were supported by USDA Foreign Market Development funding.