After three years promoting U.S. identity preserved soy in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance’s (SSGA) efforts have met the ultimate success. In late 2023, Nepal’s Shree Radhe Rani International Trading purchased one container of identity preserved product from one of SSGA’s newest members. This was the first ever commercial sale of U.S. identity preserved soy to South Asia.

To celebrate the purchase, SSGA Senior Advisor for South Asia, Philip Shull, traveled to the Nepali dry port of Birgunj with company director, Mr. Gaurav Agrawal, to receive the shipment. While in Kathmandu, Shull also spoke on “The Power and Promise of U.S. Identity Preserved Soybeans” at a U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) seminar.

Mr. Agrawal credited SSGA’s outreach as a major reason for his decision to introduce U.S. identity preserved soy in Nepal.

“Nepalis love to try new products, and our family company, founded and led by my father, Mr. Arun Agrawal, has been the first to do many things in the market,” said Agrawal.

He stressed that attending SSGA’s Identity Preserved International Summit in Hawaii in Jan. 2023 and SSGA’s guidance in the purchasing process were key reasons for his decision to buy.

Within three days of the product’s arrival, Mr. Agrawal had delivered samples to more than six retailers who had packaged whole beans for retail sale, as well as processed the soybeans into products such as soy milk, tofu, soy flour and soy nuts.

Using his own equipment, Mr. Agrawal also split and dehulled bags of product. All of these items were on display at the USSEC seminar at the Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, which was attended by many of Nepal’s leading soy food processors and retailers.

“I am very pleased with the appearance and performance of these beans,” said Mr. Agrawal. “The tofu yield was better than expected, and the soft consistency of the tofu was very nice.”

Mr. Agrawal said that the feedback from his customers has been excellent. Assuming consumers are willing to pay the premium price, he plans to purchase at least one more container in the near future.

“But next time, I will require that the shipment carry SSGA’s U.S. Identity Preserved logo,” he said.

To capitalize on the momentum of this sale, SSGA plans to host a technical and trade seminar later this year.

Southeast Asia is a growing market with great potential for high-value crops from the United States, including those processed and exported by Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance members. Because of that strong interest in the region, SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick recently traveled there, participating in the USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Malaysia and Singapore following meetings with importers and food manufacturers in Vietnam.

Frederick promoted the U.S Identity Preserved assurance plan, brand mark and labeling program and represented SSGA member companies, talking about the high-quality, food-grade field crops they supply.

“While in Vietnam, I had the chance to visit six different companies and update them almost exactly one year after our international launch of U.S. Identity Preserved brand in Ho Chi Minh City,” Frederick said. “They continue to show interest in U.S. soy and grains and want to learn more, whether it’s through our SSGA University courses, activities such as the Identity Preserved International Summit or by receiving sample from SSGA members.”

Frederick emphasized that now is the time for customers to talk to suppliers about contracting for the 2024 crop.

Those same messages were delivered during the USDA trade mission, as Frederick moved from Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then to Singapore. Frederick participated in the business-to-business sessions at the two locations, meeting with about 10 companies from the region.

Two SSGA members also participated in the meetings, WeFARM Organics (represented by SSGA board director and past chair Rob Prather) and Hang Tung Resources.

Rob Prather discusses identity preserved soy products.

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Besides the business meetings, participants had the opportunity hear from USDA Under Secretary Alexis M. Taylor and Foreign Agriculture Service officials from the region, listen to importers and exporters operating there and go on tours, including to the Port of Singapore, one of the largest and busiest container ports in the world.

Taylor said that there is a major focus on Southeast Asia as a region to diversify U.S. agricultural exports. As a region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines, is the world’s fourth-largest market. The U.S is Malaysia’s third-largest supplier of ag products to Singapore and seventh-largest to Malaysia, totaling $1.7 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively.

“One point heard several times during the event was: Everyone is rushing to Southeast Asia because they see the opportunity,” Frederick said. “Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia are some of the most important countries in the region for U.S. products. U.S. brands are well-regarded, and their young populations are receptive to new products and willing to try them. But it takes time, as each country is different and complicated.”

In all, leaders from three state agriculture departments and 29 agribusinesses and organizations accompanied Taylor on the trade mission, which took place Oct. 30-Nov. 3 with the goal of expanding export opportunities for U.S. food and farm products to the region.

SSGA members not currently in the U.S. Identity Preserved certification program should apply here and/or reach out to Frederick for more information.

In April 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) launched the High Quality Specialty Grains (HQSG) inspection program. The audit-based program, administratively supported by SSGA, has completed more than 700 inspection reports, used for phytosanitary certificate applications for containerized exports of high-quality soybeans to a dozen countries. This program saves grain facility users time and money when exporting their high quality, specialty grains for human consumption. The program helps rural, small businesses that export comply with USDA requirements for phytosanitary inspection.

SSGA negotiated the program with APHIS on behalf of U.S. exporters after successfully supporting APHIS in 2020 to delay the implementation of Japan’s requirement of a phytosanitary certificate for all U.S.-origin grains and oilseeds. With Japan’s requirement now in effect since August 2023, the HQSG program aids in the phytosanitary report process for U.S.-grown soybeans exported in containers for human consumption or processing for human consumption and may be used for any importing country requiring a phytosanitary certificate. USDA saw the extra burden coming for high quality exporters and found a way to provide a new opportunity.

Any U.S. grain facility that exports high quality soybeans for human consumption can be eligible to participate in the program. SSGA staff will guide accepted users throughout the compliance, quality assurance review, inspection and training requirements before helping them formally implement the program with APHIS. If your company is interested in using the program, please contact SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg at 507-613-0780 or ewenberg@soyagrainsalliance.org.