ASA President Danny Murphy and First Vice President Ray Gaesser joined USB Secretary Lewis Bainbridge and Director Dwain Ford, and USSEC Director Vanessa Kummer in visits to industry organizations and soy operations in Beijing, Harbin, Qiqihar and Nenjiang late last month as part of Global Partnership Mission to China.

While in Beijing, Murphy and Gaesser discussed the biotechnology approvals process before meeting with Zhang Taolin, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Agriculture. Vice Minister Zhang reiterated to the American contingent that cooperation is in the mutual benefit of both countries and that the Ministry would proactively support cooperation between the Chinese and American soybean industries. The Vice Minister also noted that the U.S. advantage on biotechnology research and production and China’s rapidly-growing plant breeding program create a natural opportunity to share information for mutual benefit, although he did note that certain social barriers to biotech still remain.

Murphy, Gaesser and the American group visited with the Heilongjiang State Farm Bureau in Harbin, which imports 5.5 million metric tons (approximately 202 million bushels) of soy each year. While in Harbin, the group also toured the facilities of 93 Group, a processing and ingredient company that makes tofu, soy milk, isolates, lecithin and other soy-based products. Additionally, the group toured growing operations, research and equipment stations and a co-op.

“The Chinese market is so, so important to American soy,” said Murphy. “Trips like this one help the American industry better understand our Chinese counterparts, and help us to find those areas of mutual benefit in which we can work together."