South Asia holds challenges, opportunities for U.S. identity preserved

In late June, SSGA participated in the Workshop on Manufacturing & Demonstration of Soy Food Products in Bhopal, India. The workshop was a collaboration among SSGA, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association.  

Soy food manufacturers and stakeholders from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka attended the workshop. Demonstrations included dehulling and splitting of soybeans and production demonstrations for various soy foods. SSGA representative Rob Prather attended and presented about the power of using U.S. Identity Preserved soybeans for manufacturing soy food products. 

 Prather said South Asia presents new challenges for SSGA and its member exporters, while also providing opportunity for growth and expansion. 

 “The potential of joint workings of India, Nepal and the U.S. for the furthering of identity preserved products far exceeds the intimidation of current barriers,” Prather said. “Successful navigation of India and Nepal casts a new mold for future expansion of U.S. identity preserved products, not just soybeans, into new, highly populated markets with protein and nutrition-deficient diets.” 

SSGA will return to Nepal Sept. 19 for an Identity Preserved International Summit Workshop. The workshops will introduce SSGA, its members and the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand mark with presentations on IP advantages (quality, traceability, economics), contracting, farming practices, crop updates and labeling. These events will be an excellent primer for the Identity Preserved International Summit that is scheduled for Feb. 18-20, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The workshop is supported by the USDA Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) grant, along with Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and North Dakota Soybean Council.