SSGA sponsors award at Natto Competition

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Each year, members of the National Natto Cooperative Union in Japan bring their best natto products for judging at the Natto Competition. In late November, judges considered 187 items produced by 70 manufacturers. Experts in various fields, including researchers, cultural figures, food industry professionals and government officials, chose the winning natto products based on appearance, aroma, taste and texture.  

The entry “Minori Natto Honoka” created by Midoriya Co., Ltd, was awarded the Grand Prize. An award for the best natto made with U.S. soybeans was awarded on behalf of the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA). SSGA international representative Keiichi (Ken) Tanaka attended the competition and awards. 

“There were many products of very high quality this year, and the competition was very close at the top,” said Hiromasa Hasegawa, advisor to the National Federation of Natto Cooperative Associations, who chaired the judging committee. “Although there were some products with room for improvement, we will provide feedback on the judging results to the companies, and we look forward to their future quality improvement and active participation in next year’s competition and beyond.” 

A special guest, Natto-no-Elf “Nebaarukun,” the fairy of natto, visited the judging venue and provided a live broadcast of the judging process.  

 

Scoular introduces Climate-Smart soybean program

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Specialty grain producers could now have extra incentive for adopting climate smart practices. Scoular recently announced their participation in the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, which would provide financial incentive to soybean producers who practice sustainable agricultural practices, such as no-till and cover crops.

Based out of Omaha, Nebraska, Scoular is an employee-owned agribusiness that buys, sells, stores, handles and processes grain and ingredients, as well as manages transportation and logistics worldwide.

The Climate-Smart program rewards soybean producers in certain regions for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote carbon sequestration and improve soil health. The soybeans Scoular will source through the program will be marketed to brands and retailers, allowing the sustainability benefits to pass through the supply chain.

“Sustainability is important for our company and is crucial for the agriculture industry,” said Eric Kresin, a general manager in Scoular’s Grain Division and a Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) board member. “We are excited we can support producers in their sustainability efforts. This program highlights our commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system for generations to come.”

For the food-grade soybean market, producers participating in this Climate-Smart program are enhancing the quality and traceability standards all the way through the supply chain.

“The commitment to climate smart ag doesn’t end with the producers. Through our initiatives at Scoular, these will continue all the way through the market to our end users,” said Rhonda Cole, market development manager at Scoular. “I think the rigor around the U.S. Identity Preserved program is something Scoular does really, really well.”

Practices that are eligible for incentives, which are paid on a per-acre basis, include conservation crop rotation, no-till, cover crop, nutrient management and reduced till. Producers could earn up $110 per acre, depending on the practices they enroll in.

“I think most farmers try to be good stewards of the land and they take their efforts in sustainability seriously,” said Cole. “While they know people appreciate those efforts, now through this Climate-Smart program it will actually put a value on it.”

Scoular recently processed its first Climate-Smart soybeans at the company’s state-of the-art grain-cleaning facility in Andres, Illinois.

The Climate-Smart effort is known officially as the Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain project. The USDA funding is through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities and represents a pioneering collaboration between industry partners led by Carbon A List.

To learn more about the Climate-Smart program, visit www.transformf2c.com or www.scoular.com.

FIRST seed trial results now available

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The results from 2024 Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) Trials are now available at www.firstseedtests.com. Corn trials averaged 231 bushels per acre across all locations, beating the old record by 6 bushels. Soybeans averaged 62.3 bushels per acre, surpassing the old record by 0.4 acres.

The results are also available to order in a printed booklet at this link: https://stores.inksoft.com/firstseedtests/shop/home. The Corn Grain and Soybean booklets are $5.95 each plus shipping with bulk quantity discounts available.

FIRST provides timely unbiased comparisons of innovative seed genetics to improve yield and profitability for American corn and soybean farmers. The testing program compares corn and soybean seed product yield and agronomic performance in grower fields in more than 500 tests across 16 states. Products are planted at five or six corn test locations and four soybean locations within a region. FIRST results are reported on its website for each individual test site and as a regional average over all sites in the region within two days of harvest.

U.S. Identity Preserved shines in Nepal

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A delegation representing SSGA and U.S. Identity Preserved helped make history in Nepal in September.

Not only did they award a certificate to Shree Radne Rani International Trading, one of the first international companies to use the U.S. Identity Preserved brand mark on their retail packaging and marketing materials, SSGA also made inroads with other soy food manufacturers during retail market visits and at the U.S. Identity Preserved International Workshop.

The SSGA delegation, which included Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick, IP Technical Consultant Rob Prather, Minnesota farmer Tom Frisch and SSGA’s South Asia Technical Advisor Philip Shull, visited several soy food manufacturers and retail markets where they saw U.S. identity preserved soybeans used in various soy snacks such as fried and roasted snack mixes, soy nuts, tofu, soy flour and more.

The tours were led by Gaurav Agrawal, director of Shree Radne Rani International Trading, the first South Asia importer of identity preserved soybeans from the U.S., which arrived in March 2024.

Companies, including over four decade-old stores and shops, have given high praise to using identity preserved beans, reporting more consistent bean size, better taste and feel and high protein. Economic efficiencies have been another noted benefit, including a ready-to-make quality that eliminates extra cleaning and sorting.

“In just a few months since the first container of U.S. IP soybeans arrived in Nepal, consumers are already reporting differences in taste and quality, while manufacturers are seeing results in production efficiencies,” Frederick said. “They could hardly wait to show off the origin of their new ingredients.”

SSGA ended its time in Nepal by hosting an U.S. Identity Preserved International Workshop, with U.S. Soybean Export Council as a partner, along with support from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), Missouri Soybeans, North Dakota Soybean Council and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. The workshop featured more than 70 attendees, including Nepali soy food manufacturers, traders and related organizations. Media in attendance included The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times, Kantipur, and Himalayan TV.

Presentations during the workshop outlined the growing process and value of identity preserved crops and its potential in Nepal’s food and beverage sector. Soy food consultant Nishith Kumar led manufacturing demonstrations and sampling of soy foods made with the very first shipment of U.S. identity preserved soybeans that were delivered to Nepal in March. Dr. Suresh Itapu discussed valued added products from whole identity preserved soybeans and Sumit Agarwal of the Soy Food Processors Welfare Association highlighted the value of partnerships among soy food processors.

“I enjoyed being here listening to all the speakers talk about how much IP soybeans mean to them, from food safety and security to nutrition, growing U.S. IP soybeans is a little bit more time consuming and labor intensive but it’s worth it to supply the world with a high-quality, high-protein product,” said Frisch, who serves as MSR&PC chair and spoke about growing identity preserved crops at the workshop. “It’s great to see firsthand the important work SSGA does throughout the world on behalf of Minnesota soybean farmers.”

U.S. Identity Preserved brandmark goes international

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Korea, Nepal companies now certified to use U.S. Identity Preserved on retail packaging 

Assurance of a quality product is now being felt across the world with the first international companies becoming certified to stamp the U.S. Identity Preserved mark on their food products.  

The U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand mark program has been in place since December 2021. Since then, 18 U.S. companies have been certified by the program, which is managed by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA). This marks the first time the brand has been licensed to foreign companies for use on their retail packaging and/or promotional materials. 

“It was a hallmark day for the U.S. Identity Preserved program. The first foreign user of the brand mark and his many customers in Kathmandu are passionate about the U.S. crops they are importing and turning into wonderful, innovative foods,” said Shane Frederick, manager of strategic programs at SSGA.  

The newly certified businesses include Shree Radhe Rani International Trading, a soy food company in Nepal, which was awarded its certificate on Sept. 19 during SSGA’s U.S. Identity Preserved Workshop in Kathmandu. In addition, a South Korean company recently received approval to use the mark on products made from specialty buckwheat imported from the U.S. 

“It’s a privilege to use the U.S. Identity Preserved label,” said Gaurav Agrawal, managing director of Shree Radhe Rani International Trading. “We have an additional responsibility to ensure the integrity of the soybean and give 100% more in our efforts.” 

Agrawal first became interested in the brandmark after attending SSGA’s inaugural Identity Preserved international Summit in Jan. 2023. He later purchased the first ever commercial shipment of identity preserved soybeans to South Asia, which arrived in March 2024. 

“In just a few months since the first container of U.S. IP soybeans arrived in Nepal, consumers are already reporting differences in taste and quality, while manufacturers are seeing results in production efficiencies,” Frederick said. “They could hardly wait to show off the origin of their new ingredients.” 

Those soybeans have since appeared in a variety of soy snacks, such as roasted soy nuts and crunchy fried soy snacks, as well as tofu, soymilk, soy flour and other soy foods around Kathmandu. 

One shopkeeper said, “Nepalis have noticed the taste and have made the change,” regarding tofu made with U.S. Identity Preserved beans. Reports of more consistent size, compared to local beans, makes it easier to produce the final product; a sweeter flavor and crunch as consumers seek different taste and texture. There are economic efficiencies, too, including a ready-to-make quality that eliminates extra cleaning and sorting. 

All in all, there’s an ability to innovate and make more products with different tastes. 

The U.S. Identity Preserved brand mark guarantees the specific, desirable traits of an identity preserved grain or oilseed grown in the U.S. are maintained throughout each step of production and transportation to the end user. Verified users of the U.S. Identity Preserved mark agree to an eight-step assurance plan to ensure the integrity of an identity preserved product from the seed to the end-user.  

Companies interested in joining the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan or using the label on their retail packaging can learn more at usidentitypreserved.org. 

SSGA joins USDA trade mission to Vietnam

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SSGA, the U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance, joined a group of 23 industry associations, 36 companies and nine state departments of agriculture as the USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Vietnam began on Monday in Ho Chi Minh City.

Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick and IP Technical Advisor Hoa Huynh are representing SSGA this week, promoting SSGA member businesses and the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance program and label, during the event, which moves north to Hanoi on Wednesday.

Frederick and Huynh are meeting with food manufacturers and buyers, including a lunch with Vinamilk on Monday. Vinamilk was a gracious host two years ago when SSGA held an international launch of the U.S. Identity Preserved brand in Ho Chi Minh City. That event prompted Vinamilk’s research and development to begin inquiring about and sampling U.S. Identity Preserved soybeans for its products.

Vietnam is the United States’ 10th-largest export market, and the U.S. is Vietnam’s third-largest supplier of agricultural products. According to speakers at the trade mission’s plenary session, Vietnamese consumers are often on the lookout for high-quality, premium products, including those of U.S. origin or with U.S. ingredients, despite higher prices for those American products due to tariffs and other factors. Food safety and hygiene are growing concerns for consumers.

Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia holds immense opportunity for U.S. exporters, with rising consumer incomes, growing middle class populations and favorable perceptions of U.S. food and agriculture. In 2023, the United States exported $3.1 billion of agricultural products to Vietnam. As the third-largest supplier of food and farm products to Vietnam, the United States holds sizable market share across several categories, including bulk commodities such as cotton, soybeans and distillers grains, as well as consumer-oriented products such as tree nuts, dairy, poultry and fresh fruit.

Besides meeting with buyers and connecting with other organizations doing business in the region, the trade mission gives SSGA a chance to hear detailed market briefings from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service staff covering Vietnam, as well as Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, along with industry experts and government contacts.

The trade mission is being led by Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

More information: https://fas.usda.gov/newsroom/usda-trade-mission-expand-ag-exports-vietnam-southeast-asia

USDA 2024 Food Processing Ingredients Report highlights Thailand’s growing role in global food industry

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By Kraipob Pangsapa, SSGA Southeast Asia international representative

According to the 2024 Food Processing Ingredients Annual report for Bangkok, Thailand, the food and beverage industry plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, with significant contributions from soybeans and grains. Aiming to be one of the world’s top-10 processed food exporters by 2027, Thailand is also positioning itself as a key player in the “Future Food” market. In 2023, the country imported substantial quantities of cereals for health foods and oilseed meal for feed, highlighting the importance of these commodities. The U.S. was a notable supplier, providing $331 million worth of processed foods, including soybeans and grains. The robust food processing sector in Thailand, which exported $26.5 billion in processed food products, relies heavily on these imports. The food retail industry, which saw sales of $5.1 billion in 2022, is expected to grow by 3% in 2024, driven by urbanization and a growing demand for eco-friendly products.

To penetrate the Thai market, U.S. exporters should establish strong relationships with local importers and distributors, leveraging opportunities at trade shows like Food Pack Asia and Thaifex Anuga. The competitive landscape is dominated by China, Vietnam and India, with the U.S. ranking as the fourth-largest supplier of food ingredients. Thailand’s market trends indicate a growing preference for healthy, functional and plant-based products, with the food e-commerce sector projected to expand significantly. Despite challenges such as trade barriers and higher tariffs on U.S. products, the demand for high-quality soy-based alternatives and other innovative food products continues to rise, presenting lucrative opportunities for exporters.

View the report here.

USDA report highlights essential role of U.S. agriculture in Philippines

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By Kraipob Pangsapa, SSGA Southeast Asia international representative

The 2024 Food Processing Ingredients Annual report for Manila, Philippines, emphasizes the essential roles of soybeans, wheat, pulses and other grains in the country’s food and beverage sector. Soymeal and soybeans, primarily imported from the U.S. valued at $1.34 billion in 2023, are critical for producing various food items like tofu, soy milk, and meat substitutes, reflecting the growing consumer preference for nutritious and plant-based foods. Wheat also plays a pivotal role in the Philippine food industry, with the U.S. being a major supplier valued at $750 million in 2023. Pulses and other grains aren’t present in significant quantities but have good sales potential. These products are gaining traction due to their nutritional benefits and versatility in developing new vegan, plant-based, non-dairy products. However, challenges such as high inter-island shipping costs and competition from countries with preferential trade agreements persist. U.S. exporters of soybeans, wheat, pulses, and grains are encouraged to leverage local trade shows, marketing programs, and strong partnerships with local distributors and manufacturers to navigate these challenges and capitalize on the growing market opportunities in the Philippines. View the report here.

NCI IP course provides hands-on learning

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Food manufacturers and others from seven Asian countries seeking to elevate their products with high-quality, identity preserved (IP) soybeans, completed a Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA)-sponsored course last week at Northern Crops Institute (NCI) in Fargo, N.D.

The annual IP/Food Grade Soybean Procurement Course focuses on sourcing and purchasing high-quality, IP soybeans for food products, equipping buyers with the knowledge and skills to navigate this specialized market. It also gave participants opportunities to tour two IP supplier facilities in the immediate area and hear from other companies operating in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Participants hailed from Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar and also included SSGA’s three international representatives, who traveled from Japan, Korea and Thailand to take the course.

“The course was a unique opportunity to learn the process of IP from the exporters and the producers and to meet SSGA members,” said Kraipob Pangsapa, SSGA’s Southeast Asia international representative. “This is information we can take to international customers in our regions and spread the message of U.S. Identity Preserved.”

Presenters instructed participants about cash and futures markets, soybean breeding, transportation, contracts, pricing and economic advantages of using identity preserved oilseeds for food manufacturing. Food scientists gave demonstrations on soy milk and tofu processing and some presentations included hands-on learning, such as SSGA IP expert consultant Raquel Hansen’s demo about grading soybeans. Tours included facilities and farm fields at Brushvale Seed and SB&B Foods, both SSGA members. Other SSGA member companies included in the program included Grain Millers, Genesis Seed Solutions, HC International and Richland IFC.

“The NCI course is very near and dear to the hearts of SSGA members,” said Shane Frederick, SSGA manager of strategic programs, “as it gives them a chance to get in depth with attendees and showcase the many advantages of identity preserved soybeans. Also, they get to emphasize the IP procurement process, which encourages working closely with suppliers and contracting ahead.”

Frederick highlighted the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand/label program and also spoke on the economic benefits that come with paying more up front for a premium product.

In addition, having SSGA’s in-country representatives take the course and speak directly with suppliers and buyers was a great way to enhance the U.S. Identity Preserved program, Frederick said.

“Our Southeast Asia and North Asia representatives came away from this with creative ideas about how they can further communicate the U.S. Identity Preserved message to customers and consumers abroad, as well as help suppliers and customers throughout the IP process,” he said.

The course was sponsored by the North Dakota Soybean Council and SSGA. Participants came to the course with the assistance of U.S. Soybean Export Council, the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and SSGA.

Member profile: Jordan Atchison, PURIS Grains

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As if coaching his two kids in baseball, softball, basketball, track & field, volleyball and flag football doesn’t sound like an overflowing plate, Jordan Atchison still manages to find time in the day to dedicate to a job he’s grown a passion for.

Jordan Atchison

Atchison joined PURIS Grains in 2006 straight out of college. Nearly 20 years later, he currently serves as the company’s president.

“I did not envision a career in agriculture, but I was offered an entry-level position that would allow me to learn all aspects of the business, like R&D (research and development), quality assurance, operations, logistics and grower relations,” Atchison said. “It allowed me to learn using a hands-on approach by experience, which was important for the development of a diverse skillset.”

Founded in 1985 and based in Randolph, Minn., PURIS is a family-owned company offering a range of organic and non-GMO soy products alongside its well-known pea protein portfolio. It prides itself on controlling the quality of soybeans from seed to shelf through an internal breeding program focused on developing food-grade, non-GMO soybeans. PURIS Grains became an SSGA member in 2023 after witnessing its work with international markets and expediting the phytosanitary process.

“We use the expedited phytosanitary cert program for export shipments and customer samples on a weekly basis, and it has really saved us a ton of time,” Atchison said. “I cannot explain enough how much time this has saved us to date. We are also now U.S. Identity Preserved-certified at our Minnesota soy facility, which speaks to our work and commitment to our quality of finish products.”

As an SSGA member, Atchison accompanied SSGA and two other natto suppliers on a trip to Japan in early May, giving him the opportunity to connect with other suppliers in the industry, along with USDA, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and representatives from the Federation of Japan Natto Manufacturers. Atchison believes the partnership with PURIS and SSGA will only continue to flourish.

“I’m looking forward to a continued discussion and open dialogue regarding natto, sprouting, tofu, soymilk and miso supply from the United States and how to grow and strengthen the relationships between the U.S. and other Asian/Southeast Asian countries using non-GMO soy for further food manufacturing,” Atchison said. “As a soybean breeder, creating new varieties of soybeans in several locations year over year, I believe we can add much more value for SSGA, its members and customers. Overall, the relationship with SSGA has been very beneficial and PURIS is looking forward to growing the relationship as we head into the future.”