SSGA delivers ‘Classic’ message

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The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance delivered its “Fork to Farm” message and handed out plenty of forks (and knives and spoons) as a reminder during last week’s Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida.

The SSGA booth saw plenty of foot traffic, giving staff ample opportunities to talk about identity preserved and specialty grains and oilseeds to a farmer audience and others. Executive Director Eric Wenberg worked the booth along with Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick and Membership Manager Jodie Arndt. Southeast Asia Technical Adviser Hoa Huynh also appeared in the booth, as did David Kee, research director for the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and SSGA’s agronomy action team lead.

“Commodity Classic is a the perfect venue to get in front of farmers from all around the country and talk to them about SSGA and the work we’re doing in the high-quality, specialty field crop space,” Wenberg said. “Just as important is the opportunity for SSGA to thank those farmers whose state checkoff organizations have funded and supported our programs.”

SSGA receives various support from 10 state soybean and other commodity groups.

For the second year in a row, SSGA gave away renewable, reusable utensil sets made of wheat straw. These popular gifts for booth visitors included the “Fork to Farm” logo and promoted usidentitypreserved.org.

Additionally, SSGA gave away to Adirondack-style chairs, one with a “Fork to Farm” pillow and the other with the U.S. Identity Preserved logo. Congratulations to the winners, Todd Hanten of South Dakota and Kim Shields of Iowa!

SSGA, AgTC to team up for ag transport events

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SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg and AgTC Executive Director Peter Friedmann.

SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg and AgTC Executive Director Peter Friedmann.

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance has long had a great relationship with the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, known as AgTC. So we’re thrilled that AgTC plans to hold one of its workshops on the heels of Transportation Go!

Transportation Go! will take place March 15-16 at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, and AgTC’s Ag Shipper Workshop at the same location following a joint lunch between the two events.

“Transportation Go! is an interactive conference that addresses the myriad challenges and opportunities ag shippers are facing,” said Eric Wenberg, SSGA executive director. “We appreciate that AgTC recognizes our agenda and wants to build upon that with its workshop. These are two events that will actually make a difference in the industry.”

Register for Transportation Go! at this link. Note that the hotel block is available through Feb. 21. Also, please note that AgTC’s workshop is a separate event, and registration for that can be found at this link.

Through an interactive agenda with high-profile speakers and unique networking opportunities, Transportation Go! promotes in-depth discussions about the global supply chain and how it affects the vital movement of agricultural products from the United States, notably the Upper Midwest. This year’s agenda includes Commissioner Max Vekich of the Federal Maritime Commission, Elaine Trevino of the U.S. Department of Transportation, David Briggs of Scoular Global Shipping and more.

During the AgTC workshop, attendees will discuss pressing challenges for exporters and importers in an informal and off-the-record way. Invited guests will include an ocean carrier and trucking executive.

“The Agriculture Transportation Coalition looks forward to partnering with the SSGA to provide a unique transportation forum,” said Peter Friedmann, AgTC’s executive director. “We will bring our AgTC-USDA Ag Shipper Workshop format, offering all Midwest agriculture the chance to dialogue face-to-face with top ocean carrier, trucking, rail and port gateway authorities who will come to Omaha. These transportation providers and ag exporters (and importers) can speak openly, benefiting by our no-press, off-the-record rules. Ag transport is adopting quickly to changing markets and needs — exporters of soybeans, grains, protein, dairy, corn and any other ag, will get insight into what the short term and long-term future holds, new and needed transport options, and decisions by Congress and Federal Maritime Commission that impact your transport options now.”

Transportation Go! agenda nearly finalized

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Transportation Go!, the premier conference for soybean, grain and other agricultural transportation issues in the Midwest, is set to take place March 15-16, 2023, in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Hilton Omaha. Registration for this second-annual event is now open at transportationgo.com.

Our agenda is nearly finalized with Max Vekich, Federal Maritime Commission; Luisa Fernandez-Willey, Association of American Railroads; Elaine Trevino, U.S. Department of Transportation and more confirmed.

SSGA is also proud to be hosting local college students at the conference. Students from Bellevue University in the Supply Chain, Transportation and Logistics Management major are eager to attend and learn more at the conference, with Hang Tung Resources sponsoring the students’ registration fees. Fittingly, Jared Spader, Managing Director for Kincannon & Reed, will speak about developing talent in ag logistics during the dinner on March 15.

Learn more about our agenda and register at www.transportationgo.com.

Identity Preserved International Summit puts ‘right people in the right room’

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In 1960, the East-West Center, a place for education, dialogue and research between the world’s two hemispheres, was established in Hawaii.

Speaking last week during the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance’s first-ever Identity Preserved International Summit, East-West Center President Suzanne Vares-Lum told the audience of more than 150 people, including many U.S. suppliers and farmers of high-quality agricultural products, as well as buyers from 10 Asian countries, that Hawaii has long been “center stage of many opportunities for progress.”

And, indeed, on Jan. 11-13, Honolulu, Hawaii, was the center of the identity preserved field crop industry.

“You know why you matter to each other or you wouldn’t be here,” Vares-Lum said, summing up the three-day event that connected the world of high-quality, high-value, identity preserved soybeans and grains together in a centralized location – at the “Crossroads of the Pacific,” where not only East meets West but across which many of those specialty field crops travel to market.

“These are the best companies in the world who do this – on both sides of the ocean,” SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg said. “The Identity Preserved International Summit gave them a chance to have real dialogue about one of the fast-growing sectors of agriculture.”

More than 50 foreign buyers participated in the first-of-its-kind conference, traveling from South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal and India for in-depth discussions and networking, along with presentations on supply and demand, shipping and transportation, crop conditions and availability and more.

SSGA Chairman Bob Sinner of SB&B Foods said that the Identity Preserved International Summit put the right people in the right room for conversations about a small but significant sector of U.S. agriculture, one with a growing demand throughout the world.

“Relationships are critical in this industry,” Sinner said. “It’s important that we understand our business-partner challenges before we, together, can capture new opportunities. Suppliers and food manufacturers can grow each other’s businesses by collaborating to imagine, create and implement new ideas.”

The event was sponsored at the Summit level by five Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs), including the Michigan Soybean Committee, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (through its Soyleic brand), the North Dakota Soybean Council and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

“It was nice to see the growers, along with the people who market and sell identity preserved and the people in transportation all in the same room as the customer,” said Joe Serbus, MSR&PC chair. “For a first-time endeavor, it was a difficult program to put together, but SSGA pulled it off.”

Minnesota farmer and MSR&PC Vice Chair Tom Frisch participated in a grower panel, along with Wisconsin farmer Patrick Mullooly, Michigan farmer Mark Senk and Missouri grower Justin Rone.

“As a farmer, it was great to get to know the international buyers and an exciting thing to get to see who we’re growing for,” said Mullooly, chairman of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. “These are important relationships. This event helped build those bridges, solidify relationships we already have and build new ones, too. It was also a chance to network with other farmers.”

Other session topics included ocean shipping trends; economic, logistics and commodity outlooks; the future of seed; innovation in manufacturing; testing solutions for quality food products; trade impact of maximum residue levels; and a workshop on the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand mark.

Norseman Protective Solutions and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) sponsored the event at the Executive level, and Hang Tung Resources (USA), SB&B Foods, Scoular, United Soybean Board and WeFARM Organics sponsored at the Supporter level.

Other sponsors included Brushvale Seeds, Legacy Agripartners, Insta-Pro International, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Ray-Mont Logistics, The Redwood Group, Richland IFC, and Zeeland Farm Services.

SSGA presents at Minnesota Organic Conference

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SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick spoke on the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand program during a breakout presentation titled “Planning for a Change” at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota Organic Conference on Jan. 5-6 in St. Cloud, Minn.

SSGA was invited to be part of the event by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, a major sponsor of the conference and a supporter and member of SSGA and many of its projects, including the U.S. Identity Preserved program.

Frederick highlighted the program and explained how identity preserved crops, including soybeans and corn might fit into an organic program or an organic transition. He also showed some organic trends, thanks to data provided by SSGA-member Mercaris. That information showed 178,000 organic acres were harvested in Minnesota in 2022 and 3.77 million total, a 14% rise from 2019. However, as organic acreage has risen, the number of operations has plateaued, dropping by 3% nationally as acres per farm have gone up 17%.

Sponsors see value in international SSGA event

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When more than 100 buyers, sellers, processors and users of high-quality grains and oilseeds arrive in Honolulu in mid-January, they’ll be welcomed to ocean breezes and 80-degree temperatures in a picturesque paradise. Despite the beautiful setting, relationship-building and business will be at the forefront of the inaugural Identity Preserved International Summit, hosted by Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA).

“The conference will be an opportunity for our trading partners to engage with U.S. IP suppliers to discuss industry challenges and trends,” said Bob Sinner of North Dakota-based SB&B Foods, “but more importantly the opportunities that will grow our relationships and businesses.”

SB&B is one of several generous sponsors of the Identity Preserved International Summit. Without their support, the event would not be possible. Sponsors range from qualified state soybean boards (QSSBs) to specialty oilseed and grains suppliers, to logistics providers and more.

Sinner said the Summit is an opportunity for both sides of a trade partnership to engage.

“We will be discussing industry challenges and trends but more importantly, the opportunities that will grow our relationships and businesses,” he said. “A key portion of this event will include an update and the latest developments to the improvement of our supply chain reliability.”

Five QSSBs are major sponsors of the Summit, including the Michigan Soybean Committee, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Soybean Council and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

“Michigan farmers grow a large amount of specialty soybeans for many different uses,” said Mark Senk, president of the Michigan Soybean Committee. “I am excited to share how my farm contributes to the production of specialty soybeans at the Summit. This event will help us to highlight the important practices behind identity preserved soybeans that make them such a desirable product.”

Ben Storm, a director with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, said the Council is proud to continue supporting the U.S. Identity Preserved brand in 2023. The Council also co-sponsored SSGA’s global launch of the assurance plan in November 2022 in Vietnam.

“The relationship-building and networking opportunities at international events like this Summit are invaluable,” said Storm. “Gathering farmers, industry leaders and buyers to promote U.S. Identity Preserved soybeans and grains helps make a difference for Minnesota growers, along with raising awareness of soy checkoff investments.”

Aaron Porter, chairman of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, agreed.

“SSGA’s ability to be the aggregator of inquiries of interested parties helps put all the needs in one spot for current and future identity preserved soybean growers to learn and potentially fulfill the request that gives them a bigger return on their crop investment,” Porter said. “The Identity Preserved International Summit serves as a central meeting point for U.S. soybean suppliers and Asian buyers who may or may not have met with producers before. The conference serves as an excellent opportunity to send soybean staff and farmers to meet with buyers and learn more about what they need and where they can hear directly from us, U.S. soybean farmers, about our challenges.”

The event is also an opportunity for growers in Wisconsin to solidify markets, said Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board Chair Pat Mullooly, who will attend and speak on a panel with other growers at the event.

“Our board recently took a good look at our strategic plan and what goals we should have for soybean growers in our state,” Mullooly said. “Identity preserved and non-GMO acres will continue to be a key market opportunity, and we believe SSGA and this event can help solidify relationships with buyers in those key markets for Wisconsin growers.”

Representatives from the North Dakota Soybean Council added that growers in their state produced more than 200 million bushels of soybeans, with about 15 million bushels being identity preserved in 2022. This event allows producers and buyers to network to create new relationships to develop markets for soybeans grown in North Dakota.

Other major sponsors include Norseman Protective Solutions, the U.S. Soybean Export Council and United Soybean Board.

“Norseman will participate in the Identity Preserved International Summit to reinforce our commitment and support to our customers,” said Rick Zieg of Norseman Protective Solutions. “It is an opportunity for us to highlight our products and to learn more about our industry, which is always evolving.”

The Identity Preserved International Summit also appreciates sponsorship support from We Farm Organics, SB&B Foods, Scoular, Hang Tung Resources, Legacy Agripartners, The Redwood Group, Ray-Mont Logistics, Richland IFC, Brushvale Seed, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Zeeland Farm Services and Insta-Pro International.

“We are so grateful to all of our sponsors for their support of this inaugural event and the first of its kind devoted to this high-quality sector of agriculture,” said Eric Wenberg, SSGA executive director. “This event would not be possible without their support and commitment.”

SSGA pitches U.S. Identity Preserved in Dubai

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SSGA had the honor of presenting at “Pitch2Fork,” an investor/start-up meeting in Dubai on Dec. 14-15. The event was hosted by Right to Protein and supported by U.S. Soy. The agenda included a lineup of entrepreneurs and start-ups who showcased impactful ideas and success stories in the food, nutrition, and agri-technology space. The event brought together the community of start-ups, investors, mentors and academicians who aimed to solve challenges in nutrition security.

SSGA was invited by USSEC to present, and SSGA adviser and identity preserved expert and farmer Raquel Hansen, spoke about identity preserved and introduced the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand program to the audience. Hansen’s message explained how IP is the “value that adds value,” because, despite premiums paid for identity preserved field crops, the operational benefits outweigh those initial costs.

In a “Shark Tank”-type format, five different start-up companies from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan pitched their company and business plan in front of six judges of the International Delegation of Entrepreneurship in Agriculture, along with approximately 90 attendees hand-selected to represent capital investment firms, food and nutrition companies and agri-technology companies throughout the South Asia and the Sub-African region. Other speakers presented on the future of agriculture, U.S. Soy and Sustainability, ESG (environmental, social, and governance), plant-based foods, and blockchain and cryptocurrency in agriculture.

This format was very intriguing and interactive, Hansen said, allowing for networking activities to reach companies throughout the developing region. SSGA was privileged to be a part of the program supporting activities around identity preserved grains and oilseeds.

“Right to Protein” is India’s first awareness initiative to educate citizens about the importance of adequate protein consumption for better nutrition, health and wellbeing. SSGA and its members are proud to be a part of the initiative!

Aloha! Register today for Identity Preserved International Summit

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On the heels of its U.S. Identity Preserved brand launch in Vietnam, SSGA will hold its next global gathering January 11-13, 2023, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Grains and oilseeds buyers, food manufacturers, exporters, growers and processors can expect to learn more about the highest quality U.S. grains and oilseeds, along with networking, business opportunities and more at the inaugural Identity Preserved International Summit.

Confirmed speakers include Christian Foster of the Crop Protection Action Coalition for Trade (CPACT). CPACT, launched by the U.S. Dry Bean Council in 2021, confronts and prevents disruption of ag trade between the U.S. and export markets due to low or zero tolerance maximum residue limits. Foster will address some of these barriers to trade in his session.

A workshop on Day 1 of the Summit will encourage public comments and consider amendments to U.S. Identity Preserved, the quality assurance plan, standard and brandmark administered by SSGA. Workshop speakers include James Fung of Indiana Crop Improvement; Peter Golbitz of Agromeris, Raquel Hansen, grower and identity preserved consultant; Gary Williams of Grainhound Consulting and Shane Frederick, SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs.

Other confirmed speakers include grains and oilseeds growers Mark Senk from Michigan and Justin Rone from Missouri. They will be joined by other U.S. growers in “A view from the combine,” a panel session for growers to share more about their farm and the practices they undertake to ensure a quality product.

More speakers will be confirmed and updated regularly at this link, which also includes registration and more information about the event. We hope you’ll join us for this one-of-a-kind conference at the crossroads of the Pacific!

A ‘Movement’ Begins: US Identity Preserved Holds International Unveiling

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SSGA, Industry leaders gather in Vietnam to attend global launch

The U.S. Identity Preserved brand is now officially a global entity.

On Nov. 1, the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) met in Vietnam with buyers and food producers to introduce its new international mark that designates premium crops with verifiable origins and builds worldwide awareness of the assurance plan that spotlights the superior products derived from the U.S. system.

“(SSGA) is here today to announce a significant certification advancement for food manufacturers to consider when purchasing ingredients for their products,” Executive Director Eric Wenberg said during a livestreamed event from the Saigon Sheraton Hotel & Towers. “We are excited to make this first official announcement in Vietnam because this is an important and growing market for high-quality foods that require high-quality ingredients.”

The U.S. Identity Preserved quality assurance plan and brand mark symbolizes a landmark advancement in the verification of trust, traceability and value for food manufacturers, processors and exporters. Since the brand was unveiled to an American audience in December 2021, a dozen U.S. companies have joined the program and are using the mark – with several more companies currently going through the application and qualification process.

“There’s real excitement about having a mark represent a very special segment of U.S. agriculture and business,” SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick said. “The mark has purpose and value and assurances that back them up.”

Tuesday’s event attracted 75 officials from across the industry, including the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), which brought a contingent to Vietnam from Myanmar. As well, the international launch was co-sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Wisconsin Marketing Board and Vinamilk, Vietnam’s largest dairy company. On Thursday, the SSGA team tours Vinamilk’s headquarters before flying back to the United States.

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“The U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand mark represents the strict protocols and careful attention to detail that are followed by processors and exporters of high-quality, identity preserved soybeans and grains from the United States,” said Nguygen Quoc Khanh, executive director of research and development with Vinamilk. “These are assurances of quality and food safety that Vinamilk seeks as we purchase the specific varieties of ingredients we require to efficiently manufacture our own high-quality, consistent products that our customers love.”

On Nov. 2, SSGA will offer more presentations on the U.S. Identity Preserved system and go further in depth on the quality, characteristics and performance customers can expect from specialty soybeans and grains from the United States. The program will be emceed by Hoa Huynh, SSGA’s Southeast Asia technical adviser. Panels will feature buyers, industry leaders, SSGA staff and Michigan farmer David Williams, who has grown Identity Preserved soybeans on his sixth-generation farm. Officials from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service in Ho Chi Minh City are also expected to attend. A wrap up video of the event’s first day can be viewed here.

“Those of us who grow Identity Preserved field crops understand the importance of providing consistent, high-quality products to our customers,” said Williams, a United Soybean Board director. “It starts on the farm where we put extra work into our production to preserve a variety’s identity.”

The work advancing Identity Preserved has only just begun, as SSGA looks ahead to hosting its next global gathering: the Identity Preserved International Summit Jan. 11-13, 2023 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“The Identity Preserved brand is more than merely a mark,” Wenberg said. “It’s a movement to advance food traceability.”

First-of-its-kind specialty ag conference set for Hawaii

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First-of-its-kind specialty ag conference set for Hawaii

SSGA to host Identity Preserved International Summit Jan. 11-13 in Honolulu

Identity preserved soybeans and grains cross the Pacific Ocean throughout the year, as the finest ingredients from the United States are delivered to food manufacturers throughout Asia. That is why there is no better location to hold a conference about identity preserved and specialty field crops from the United States than in Hawaii – literally the “Crossroads of the Pacific.”

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance presents the inaugural Identity Preserved International Summit to be held Jan. 11-13, 2023, at the Hilton Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.

This is an opportunity for food manufacturers and their buyers from around the world to gather with processors, exporters and farmers of identity preserved and other grains and oilseeds from the United States for three days of education, conversation, networking, business opportunities and more.

Strategically scheduled for the peak of the shipping season, as well as the beginning of the buying season for the 2023 specialty crop, the Identity Preserved International Summit is an opportunity for in-depth discussions about trends in the identity preserved and specialty markets and the needs of the international customer and the availability of high-quality U.S. IP products.

“These are the best companies in the world who do this – on both sides of the ocean,” said Eric Wenberg, SSGA executive director. “We are giving them a chance to have real dialogue about one of the fastest-growing sectors of agriculture – the IP and specialty space.”

Besides being centrally located as a convenient meeting spot for guests from the U.S., Japan, Korea, Taiwan and countries throughout Southeast Asia, Hawaii has other great amenities (And we’re not just talking about the weather!): Hawaii’s top agricultural commodities are seed crops, including corn and soybean seeds. Holding the Summit in the 50th U.S. state will give guests opportunities to see firsthand the development of new varieties.

The Summit will also include a workshop on the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan, which was launched by SSGA in December 2021, and panels on ocean shipping, ag manufacturing equipment and trade.

SSGA is working with Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture, as well as with the support of Qualified State Soybean Boards from Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Michigan.

The U.S. Identity Preserved quality assurance plan and its accompanying designation offers assurance to customers looking for grains with specific traits or qualities such as variety, protein and sugar levels, color, bean size or flavor. Customers can be assured the grains are traceable from their fields of origin throughout the process of production, processing, packaging and distribution, which provides the knowledge and assurance customers need.

“We think our Summit will bring new experiences and opportunities to all participants, and we’re happy to offer a special rate to Hawaii residents,” Wenberg said. “We look forward to uniting the identity preserved industry and saying ‘aloha’ to our guests in January.”

Registration for the event is now open at https://soyagrainsalliance.org/international-ip-summit/.