ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program is launching its trade team season in May, beginning with a high-level Essential Amino Acid Short Course at the Northern Crops Institute for business leaders from Cambodia and Kazakhstan. Taking place May 5th–9th, the course will spotlight the unique value of U.S. soy’s amino acid profile, particularly for soy grown in northern states. The short course provides WISHH an opportunity to deepen relationships with Asian stakeholders while emphasizing soy for feed.
Trade team activities continue in June with a visit to the U.S. Grains Council’s buyers conference June 2nd-3rd. June will also include WISHH’s participation in the African Regional Aquaculture Conference (AFRAQ) in Uganda starting June 24th. WISHH will highlight soy’s growing role in Africa’s aquaculture industry, which has expanded more than 11% annually since 2000. WISHH works in the aquaculture sections in several different countries on the continent to create greater market for U.S. soy for fish feed. Also in June, WISHH is bringing individuals from Africa to a feed manufacturing course at Kansas State University’s International Grains Program Institute. The course will expose trade team members to best practices in feed manufacturing while fostering connections to the U.S. soy industry.
Later, in August, WISHH will bring partners to the annual INTSOY trade team hosted by the Northern Crops instituted. INTSOY showcases uses for soy in food products, including baking, snack foods, meat alternatives, and beverages and includes hands-on training sessions.
The season wraps with a farmer-led delegation to Cambodia to see the results of the USDA Food for Progress-funded CAST Project, which advances sustainable aquaculture and promotes soy-based feed. Trade team members will see CAST’s work leveraging USDA funding with the soy checkoff and other funding sources to grow demand for soy-based fish feeds, which can increasingly be made with U.S. Soy. They will also get a firsthand look at the CAST-created Cambodian Aquaculturist Association. CAA is more than 1,100 members strong. Comprised of fish farmers, sellers, wholesalers, feed millers and distributors, it is WISHH’s long-term strategy of sustainability in the region, making the aquaculture sector more valuable for U.S. trade.