By Scout Nelson
A team of animal feed company leaders from Cambodia and Kazakhstan visited North Dakota this May to explore U.S. soybean value and build trade connections.
The visit was hosted by ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), with support from the North Dakota Soybean Council and the Northern Crops Institute.
The goal of the visit was to showcase the nutritional advantages of U.S. soybean meal, especially its essential amino acid content. Classroom sessions included tools to calculate these benefits, helping international buyers evaluate cost-effectiveness in their operations.
The Kazakh visitors also made their first trip to NCI, where they connected with experts in animal feed applications. These conversations and demonstrations deepened their understanding of how U.S. soy fits into global feed strategies.
Participants experienced every stage of the soybean supply chain. They toured a soybean farm, met with six U.S. exporters and processors, and visited container and river barge loading facilities to understand logistics and reliability.
“WISHH leveraged support from the North Dakota soybean checkoff program with USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program funds to build this year’s trade team,” said ASA officials.
This hands-on learning opportunity promotes long-term market growth and strengthens ties between the U.S. soy industry and emerging international buyers.
The event reflected a strong partnership between industry groups and government resources to support agricultural trade.
As participants return home, their new knowledge may help expand U.S. soy’s presence in international markets, contributing to global food and feed solutions.
Photo Credit: istock-oticki
Categories: North Dakota, Business, Crops, Soybeans, Government & Policy