Indiana’s soybean checkoff program touts Hoosier items at world’s largest food show

By Anita Sharkey

The Gulfood Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), owns the title of the world’s largest food and beverage show. The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) views this event as a key opportunity to support Indiana soybean farmers and actively pursue initiatives directly benefiting their operations back home.

ISA partners with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) to establish a strong presence at the event, which included a booth space, strategically designed to facilitate meetings and support the objectives of increasing trade.

Gulfood 2025 included a record 5,500 exhibitors from 190 countries and more than 100,000 visitors. Gulfood is divided into eight key sectors: dairy, meat, and poultry; power brands; pulses, grains and cereals; health, wellness
and free-from foods; world food; beverages; and fats and oils.

ISA and USAPEEC work to increase U.S. broiler and turkey exports worldwide through participation and an expanded presence at Gulfood. This project focuses on growing exports to the Middle East region and surrounding markets reached in one central location, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, India, Asia and Central Asia.

In 2023, nearly 4 million soybean bushels from Indiana were exported through chicken, turkey, duck and eggs.

Middle East is a critical market

The Middle East represents a critical U.S. poultry and egg export market, benefiting corn and soybean growers. The United Arab Emirates is the top export market for U.S. poultry products in the Middle East. In 2023, the U.S. exported more than 62,000 metric tons of chicken broiler meat, nearly 750 metric tons of turkey meat, and 125
metric tons of other poultry meat to the UAE.

Indiana soybean farmer and board member Larry Rusch was part of the Gulfood show trade mission.

“Dubai is a major business hub, with an immeasurable amount of commerce taking place every day,” said Rusch, who farms near Vincennes, Ind. “There is a strong demand for Indiana agricultural products, and our job is to ensure the right people are present with the right products to meet that demand.”

During the Show, the ISA and USAPEEC teams engaged with agricultural leaders worldwide, including a notable meeting with individuals in Saudi Arabia who manage more than 1 million acres of farmland.

Rusch noted that Indiana fostering communication with these individuals is essential. “It puts a face with an image and that works both ways,” he said. “I met with a Saudi deputy secretary of agriculture, not knowing exactly what to expect. The Secretary had real-world concerns about food security. His strong focus on securing his country’s future food supply was clear and deeply impactful. It’s something Indiana farmers can have an impact on.”

Denise Scarborough, a farmer from LaCrosse, Ind., and ISA Board Chair, said these meetings are crucial for expanding markets for Hoosier soybean growers.

“I think it’s important for Indiana farmers, or any U.S. farmer, to have a seat at the table when there is a chance to talk to buyers from foreign countries,” she said. “We are constantly looking for ways to export our goods around the world. Anytime we can, we sit across from somebody who is a major buyer in another country looking to import U.S. soybeans, corn or any U.S. meat products. It’s a great way for us to have those one-on-one conversations about the products and goods that U.S. farmers grow and how they can benefit their countries.”

Inside look at a processing plant

Maple Leaf Farms in Leesburg, Ind., is a fourth generation, family-owned company that specializes in growing and producing high-quality duck. With a farm to-fork approach, Maple Leaf Farms produces premium duck and duck products for kitchens and restaurants worldwide, making Indiana the largest U.S. duck producer. ISA is committed to projects that help move Indiana duck products overseas.

During their time in Dubai, the team visited Sama Teeba Food Industries LLC, a packing plant where they saw Maple Leaf duck packaged and ready for shipment.

“Visiting the processing facility in Dubai was very interesting,” Scarborough said. “I found it fascinating how they import the frozen meats and then take them through their facility to repackage them and repurpose them for the local needs that they have there within their country. The facility was definitely state-of-the-art, and it was amazing how they housed their own employees so they could stay right there. Definitely, a forward-thinking person who owns the facility and sees how they can continue to bring in meats from not only the U.S. but from around the world to benefit their country and their growing needs.”

Rusch added, “The packaging plant exemplified the strong desire, need and demand for food products. Seeing it while in construction highlighted their commitment to investing in the future. Not only were they building a facility, but they were also constructing housing for their employees — facing many of the same workforce challenges that we do.”

In summary, the ISA’s participation at Gulfood 2025 was a significant opportunity to strengthen global connections and expand markets for Indiana’s agricultural products. By engaging with international leaders and exploring key processing facilities, the team advocated for Indiana soybean farmers and discovered new opportunities for future growth.

As the demand for U.S. agricultural exports continues to rise, ISA remains committed to fostering relationships
that ensure Indiana remains a key player in the global agricultural market.