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ASA Provides Technical Assistance to Myanmar Tofu Companies

Dec 20, 2018

Dr. Suresh Itapu (left) visits with QSP participant Lay Lay Laung (right) of Nike Tofu in Yangon.

Dr. Suresh Itapu, a soyfood technical consultant, is spending the week in Myanmar providing technical assistance and follow-up support to the tofu companies on the benefits of using U.S. food grade soybeans.

The tofu companies were participants of this year’s Quality Samples Program (QSP), where they received seven different varieties of U.S. food grade soybeans from three U.S. exporters.

The QSP participants continue to conduct trials and are starting to realize the benefits of using U.S. food grade soybeans over locally grown soybeans, which are often high in foreign matter levels and have inconsistent bean size and color.

In Myanmar, ASA/WISHH implements activities in the human food sector, while the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) works in the animal feed sector. Both organizations coordinate their programs to avoid duplication.

Funding for Dr. Itapu’s trip was provided through the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP).