From Feb.16-19, the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (ASA/WISHH) technical consultants Dana Johnson, Miguel Escobar and Michael David traveled to Lagos, Nigeria on the third stop of a three-country research project in West Africa. The team is conducting a USDA Emerging Markets Program-funded market assessment of the feed, aquaculture and poultry industry in Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria. Joining them on the Ghana and Nigeria portion of the travel was the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council’s (USAPEEC) Director of Technical Services Dr. Shelly McKee.

In partnership with the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council International Poultry Development Program (UIPDP), the team aims to increase the U.S. feedstuff and poultry industry’s knowledge of market opportunities for U.S. soy in feed in each of the target countries.

Ultimately, recommendations from the market assessment will include a variety of actions including targeted technical assistance to improve feed quality and management practices, and facilitating infrastructure and supply chain enhancements. A healthy local poultry and feed industry is good business for U.S. exporters of both soy and frozen poultry.

In addition to their main research activities in Lagos, Michael David traveled to Abuja in order to add a wider scope to their analysis from Nigerian government officials.