Ag Supply Chain Asia helps build relationships to stimulate trade

In partnership with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (US- SEC), the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC) Southeast Asia and Oceania office hosted its fourth annual Agricultural Supply Chain Asia conference on Jan. 18-19. With Ambassador Gregg Doud, former chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, as the keynote speaker, and a global panel of subject-matter experts, the conference helped provide in-depth perspectives to its 522 registrants.

Using a specialized online platform, the virtual event featured webinar-style presentations and a virtual trade show at which Council members could network with customers and end-users of grains in the region. The regional conferences organized by USGC and USSEC are best known for their opportunities to conduct business and transact trade.

USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand kicked off the event with Jim Sutter, CEO of USSEC, by welcoming attendees.

“In keeping with our promise to serve, the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Soybean Export Council have prepared this virtual event to facilitate discussions around the topics most critical to decision-makers in our industry today,” LeGrand said.

“The Council has been in Southeast Asia for over 30 years, and I’m pleased to see the region become one of the most dynamic and exciting feed markets in the world. Looking forward into 2022, the Council will focus on continued expansion of partnerships in grain, feed and ethanol trade.”

During the event, attendees heard from a variety of speakers, including several U.S. producers, on topics including corn crop field production perspectives; the U.S. corn and co-products outlook; distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) use in animal feed; and a global ethanol outlook. Other topics included issues of broad interest like the state of the global supply chain, world consumer trends, managing price risk exposure and grain transportation. Caleb Wurth, USGC regional director in Southeast Asia, acted as a moderator for two of the four sessions. Wurth introduced speakers during that time and also led question-and-answer sessions between the speakers and attendees.

“Customers in Southeast Asia and Oceania look forward to our joint conference with USSEC each year. This event’s success is a testament to the cooperation between our two organizations, delivering a total U.S. package to our customers here in the region,” Wurth said.

Through programming like the Agricultural Supply Chain Asia conference, the Council and its counterparts continue to find ways to promote the quality and advantage of U.S. commodities.

The USGC develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed

information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org