Ohio Soybean Council Board and WISHH Program Committee Member Bob Suver speaks at WISHH’s January 2020 conference in Cambodia, where U.S. soybean growers joined WISHH in discussions with current or prospective customers and strategic partners to add soy protein to livestock feeds or human foods.

In a new video, U.S. soybean growers highlight how WISHH works in a strategic manner to grow trade for U.S. soy protein in developing and emerging markets.

Daryl Cates, Bob Suver, Stan Born and Morey Hill were among a trade team of 13 U.S. soybean growers who joined WISHH in January 2020 to meet with current or prospective customers as well as strategic partners to add soy protein to livestock feeds or human foods in Cambodia and Myanmar.

Cates, an ASA governing member from Illinois who chairs WISHH, described the economic progress in the region, what it means for U.S. farmers, and how WISHH has leveraged soybean checkoff investments with U.S. Department of Agriculture funds. He shares how WISHH’s USDA project is launching development of Cambodia’s aquaculture industry, including a new aquaculture trade association.

Ohio Soybean Council Board and WISHH Program Committee Member Bob Suver reports on the value of WISHH’s work in the region and notes by 2030 Asia will be home to 65%t of the world’s middle-class population. “Both Cambodia and Myanmar illustrate the fast growth in GDP. Their populations are young. We need to be prepared to have them meet their greater diet with soybeans as a protein source.”

Born, an Illinois soybean grower, is also an ASA governing member and serves on the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). He stresses that it is imperative for U.S. soybean farmers to have a diverse customer base and describes how WISHH works to develop long-term markets. Born also shares how WISHH’s work fits with USSEC.

Hill, an ASA director from Iowa who serves on the WISHH Program Committee, is shown in the video as he met with tofu manufacturers as well as a livestock feed manufacturer who has added a new line of aquaculture feeds made with U.S. soy.

“Any time we can find another new market and a new way to use our soybeans for a market, everybody wins. We need to be diligent and make sure that market is growing and that they are getting the best expertise, education and help that they need to be successful. Ultimately, we will help American farmers to be successful,” concludes Hill. Watch the video here.