(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – Farmer directors traveled internationally to progress the soybean industry through an inaugural trade mission. During the mission, growers are spreading the soybean story across three countries vital to the growth of our state’s number one cash crop – the soybean.
“These meaningful missions provide great opportunities to build and maintain relationships in key markets,” said Gary Wheeler, Missouri Soybeans CEO and executive director. “The goal of this trip is threefold – policymaker and customer education, market expansion and leadership development.”
From June 9-19, eight Missouri farmers from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) and Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) traveled to Ireland, United Kingdom and Germany to see how soybeans are grown, processed and exported in the international market. It also allowed farmers to visit with important partners and thank them for their past and future business.
“Understanding market needs, building relationships, and earning trust with local stakeholders is foundational to U.S. Soy delivering on the vision of advancing nutrition and food security sustainably, and our mission of maximizing utilization of U.S. Soy,” said Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the export market development arm of the U.S. soybean industry.
Europe is the second biggest overseas market for U.S. soybeans valued at more than $2 billion/year. This growth has the potential to increase in the coming years as U.S. soybean meal and crush expands dramatically.
Europe and U.S. Soy have a mature relationship that the industry works to maintain. In 2020/21, Europe increased production by 3%, reaching 4.75 MMT (175 million bushels).
“Anticipating market needs and carrying out our organization’s strategic vision of enhancing soy are critical pieces of why this trade mission was important and impactful,” said Aaron Porter, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) chairman. “With Europe being a mature market for the U.S. it was eminent that we set boots on the ground to discuss impending issues and opportunities.”
Show-Me state growers witnessed the many burdens European farmers face including land access, deforestation, regulation restrictions, barriers to operate and more. Due to the smaller landscape, Missouri farmers learned how crucial import markets are and will be to customers in Europe. Tremendous demand exists for protein in dairy, which presents an immediate opportunity for Midwest producers.
While traveling, Missouri’s producers met with the Irish Food Safety Authority; Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Irish Environmental Protection Agency; Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association; Ulster Farmers’ Union; Ireland College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise; U.K. Food Standards Agency; U.K. Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; U.K. National Farmers’ Union; Agricultural Industries Confederation; U.S. Embassy to the U.K.; ADM and many others.
Additionally, farmers set foot on a variety of farm operations including a regenerative operation, a Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) landscape, a soybean farm and other fields.
“There is a lot of invaluable farmer checkoff sell back from these trips,” said Matt Amick, Missouri Soybeans director of market development. “These trade missions, along with many other projects, drive the value and demand of the Missouri soybean. We can’t become complacent in the fast-changing market and the checkoff allows us to determine demand drivers.
To find out more about the MSMC trade mission, visit mosoy.org or follow the organization on @MissouriSoybean across all platforms. For further questions, please reach out to Matt Amick, mamick@mosoy.org.
The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council is a statewide, farmer-led organization working to improve opportunities for Missouri soybean farmers through a combination of research, outreach, education and market development efforts supported by the soy checkoff. Learn more by exploring mosoy.org.