The American Soybean Association (ASA) will sponsor an international conference, "The Food Chain of Tomorrow, Meeting the Demand for Identity Preserved Agricultural Commodities," January 17-18, 2000 at the Renaissance Hotel in Saint Louis, Mo. Dynamic grain markets are creating new opportunities for farmers, life science companies, exporters, and buyers to add value to their businesses. Addressing cutting edge issues in Identity Preservation (IP), this conference is a must for anyone who wants to be successful in today’s global market place.

"Today’s soybean market requires those in the IP business to address new issues: quality control, certification, and liability, among others," said ASA President Marc Curtis. "This conference will spell out how those in the IP business or those interested in IP can address these emerging issues and improve the profitability of their farms and businesses."

Identity Preservation is a process by which a crop is grown, usually under contract, and handled, processed and delivered under controlled conditions, whereby the end user of the product is assured that the crop has maintained its unique identity from farmgate to end use.

The agenda for the two-day conference blends case studies from successful IP entrepreneurs, guidance on managing legal risks in an IP system, and panel discussions on IP export rules, cost-benefit analysis, and quality control.

Advanced registration rates are available if received by Jan. 10. To register for the conference, contact the American Soybean Association at (800) 688-7692, ext. 398.