What to expect at the U.S. SOY Global Trade Exchange and Specialty Grains Conference

On Aug. 20-22, over 750 soy and grain industry leaders, buyers and suppliers are expected to attend the U.S. SOY Global Trade Exchange and Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) in Chicago. Here’s what you can expect at the joint U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) event.

Over 50 businesses will exhibit in the trade show opening at 11 a.m – 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 7 – 10:45 Thursday morning. Exhibitors include buyers and sellers of soybeans and grains and their support businesses such as shipping, data and information, publications, equipment, finance, insurance and more. Wednesday will conclude with a reception in the trade show area. To learn more about the trade show and exhibitors, visit here.

“The trade show is the part of GTE where all the business happens,” says SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg. “It’s a place for attendees to network and explore ways to improve their business. We have a great lineup of exhibitors and we’re excited for this important part of the conference.”

Thursday boasts a jam-packed agenda of sessions related to policy, trade, communications and other relevant topics. Speakers include: USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney and Chief Strategy Officer Marjorie Benzkofer of FleishmanHillard. Pradnya Joshi, trade editor for Politico, will lead a conversation with Professor Mary Lovely, Syracuse University, on the future of trade.

“We believe we have sessions about the most crucial topics in the soybean, grains and shipping industries,” Wenberg says. “Experts will be addressing our attendees on these topics and it’s really a big deal.”

Thursday afternoon will include breakout sessions discussing African Swine Fever, U.S. food soybean production and supply, U.S. soybean meal, global container shipping and more. Among these are two panels planned by SSGA.

Senior leaders from three of the largest ocean container shipping lines will speak to delegates and engage in a Q&A session titled “Global Container Shipping’s Latest Trends, Service Challenges and What the Future Holds — Moving Soy, Commodity and Specialty Grains across the Globe – How leading ocean carriers are retooling their operations and service models to meet future demand.” SSGA Advisor for Trade and Transportation Bruce Abbe will moderate the session.

Panelists include: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Executive Vice President Allen Clifford; Cameron Bowie, Senior Vice President, Hapag-Lloyd (America) LLC; and Tom Smart, director of sales – central for Ocean Network Express (ONE), the recently combined carrier made up of the three major Japanese container lines MOL, K-Line and NYK.

Another key panel session is the “U.S. Food Soybean 2019 Crop Production and Supply Outlook.” Executives from identity-preserved, food soybean exporters will survey four production regions across the U.S. and present the latest general outlook for this year’s specialty soybean production across the country.

Panelists include: Austin DeLong, Delong Company, Inc.; Sheila Sauve, Healthy Food Ingredients; Chase Holoubek, Scoular; and Michael Youmans, Clarkson Grains.

Gary Williams, vice president of marketing and business development for United Grain will moderate the panel.

Attendees are encouraged to download the USSOY EVENTS application on their smartphone for an event guide at the touch of their fingertips. The app has the event schedule, venue map, and information about exhibitors, sponsors and speakers. The full agenda and further information about GTE can be found here.