St. Louis. August 11, 2020 American Soybean Association (ASA) President Bill Gordon has confirmed the election of ASA's World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) officers and committee members for 2020-2021. Officers are Chairman Gerry Hayden (KY), Vice Chair Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare (IL), Treasurer Jim Wilson (MI), and Secretary Morey Hill (IA).

Gordon welcomed two new farmer-leaders to WISHH, a program of ASA: David Niekamp (IL) and Adam Redmann (ND). In addition to the four WISHH executive committee members, ASA reappointed: Tim Bardole (IA); Daryl Cates (IL), who was WISHH chair (2016-2020) and now serves on WISHH as a representative of the ASA Governing Committee; Craig Converse (SD); Scott Gaffner (IL); George Goblish (MN); Bob Haselwood (KS); David Lueck (MO); Bob Suver (OH); Dawn Scheier (SD); Craig Williams (IN); David Williams (MI) who is a USB ex-officio member on WISHH, along with USSEC representative Ed Beaman; and Bill Wykes (IL), who also serves as an ASA representative.

“ASA thanks these soybean growers who lead WISHH’s important work to connect trade and development,” said Gordon. “WISHH is U.S. soy’s catalyst for trade in emerging and developing markets in Africa, Asia and Central America.

“WISHH is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and today’s trade environment validates just how visionary U.S. soybean growers and their state soybean checkoff organizations were when they launched WISHH,” Gordon added. “All U.S. soybean growers benefit from WISHH serving as the long-term market development arm of the U.S. soy family.”

Protein demand continues to climb as the global population grows to an expected 9 billion people by 2050. U.S. farmers produce high-quality, nutrient-dense protein more efficiently and more sustainably than any other nation.

To fill protein gaps in Asia, Africa and Central America, WISHH works with driven leaders and supply chain partners within countries to build networks and connect value chains for new products or services for soyfoods as well as feeds for livestock, poultry and aquaculture. WISHH educates, mentors and networks as well as provides effective trade solutions for U.S. soy use.

Soybean checkoff dollars are the core funding that WISHH uses to go out and secure additional resources, such as those available through USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. WISHH has leveraged farmer checkoff dollars at a six-to-one ratio over the last seven consecutive years.

About WISHH: ASA/WISHH connects trade and development across global market systems, improving food security. Knowing that protein plays an essential role in human nutrition, visionary U.S. soybean growers founded WISHH in 2000 to serve as a catalyst in emerging markets. WISHH brings the power of strategic partnerships to a unique market-systems approach. Local business leaders, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions join WISHH in increasing demand and fueling economic growth for the sustained availability of nutritious and affordable human foods and livestock feeds.

###