Trade Mission to Soy Excellence Center

Illinois Soybean Board Director and Vice Chairman of the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) Steering Committee, Mark Read, and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Trade and Exports Manager, Eileen Urish, recently visited Honduras on a trade mission as part of the SEC Steering Committee. While in Honduras they were able to see firsthand the In Pond Raceway System (IPRS) ISA is supporting. The goal is to establish the Gold Standard for IPRS Fish Farm Operation demonstration with a trusted partner at the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural University (ZAM) located in Honduras. The IPRS technology leverages U.S. Soy sustainability as it enhances customer’s profitability in a more environmentally friendly and efficient manner vs traditional pond fish culture. Additionally, it will be used as a teaching model for the Soy Excellence Center efforts that will start in July 2022.

The steering committee had the pleasure of interacting with the first ever in person SEC graduates as they completed their course at Zamorano University. The 28 graduates represented nine different countries with backgrounds in various related industries. Participants were presented with a certificate in Intermediate Poultry Training and Basic Feed Manufacturing Training. The SECs’ provide soy value chain expertise in emerging markets and facilitate connections that drive market expansion in key regions. Latin America has been identified as having great potential to create future demand for U.S. Soy in high-impact markets. To date, multi-level educational tracks have been prioritized to include poultry management, aquaculture management, feed milling efficiency, and crush efficiency.

This is a partnership with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to grow the demand for U.S. soy worldwide, promoting consistent quality and access to soy. The diverse markets are a win for both soybean farmers in the U.S. and consumers internationally.