Matt Gast (second from left) and ASA/WISHH Asia Division Director Alan Poock (far left) met with multiple food company representatives in Myanmar and Cambodia. ASA/WISHH has cultivated their interest in U.S. soy for its quality and other benefits so the companies are enthusiastic about conducting trials with U.S. food grade soybeans.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) facilitated a shipment of 14 metric tons of U.S. food-grade soybeans for use in soy milk and tofu in Cambodia and Myanmar at the beginning of March.

WISHH’s work in Cambodia and Myanmar has prepared companies that are now eager to conduct their first full-scale production trials. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Quality Samples Program supported the shipment following a competitive bidding process. Three members of the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association (NFGSA) provided the seven varieties of high-quality soybeans for the trials by soy milk and tofu companies that WISHH has worked with in the two countries.

ASA/WISHH program committee member Matt Gast traveled to both countries in January, where he joined WISHH in meetings with companies that will evaluate the U.S. soy. Gast also witnessed the market for U.S. soy in food as well as feed, including aquaculture feed.

“Cambodia and Myanmar are significant opportunities for U.S. soy to meet their growing demand for high-quality soybeans,” Gast said. “USDA’s support of WISHH’s activities in these countries is an important partnership with our soybean checkoff investments.”

The North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) supported WISHH’s activities that resulted in the companies’ interest in U.S. soybeans for the premium products they are developing. NDSC is also providing funding to send Northern Crops Institute (NCI) Food Scientist Zach Liu, Ph.D., to train staff in in the companies conducting the trials.