Soybean Oil Masters program graduates 73 global buyers from 12 countries

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 28, 2026) — Seventy-three international soybean industry stakeholders visited Indiana farms, agribusinesses and Purdue University as part of the final phase of the Soybean Oil Masters program last week. The program, a partnership between the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) demonstrates why U.S.-grown soybeans are the preferred choice for global buyers.

This program fosters connections internationally across the agricultural, trade and food business and food service sectors while providing global end users, crushers and influential groups in the food industry with a comprehensive understanding of U.S. soybean oil and, ultimately, to increase demand. The program covers various aspects including nutritional benefits, practical applications, production processes and the sustainability of U.S. soybean production.

This year’s Soybean Oil Masters class had 73 graduates from 12 countries. These graduates are buyers and end-users of U.S. soybeans.  Since the program was created in 2018, more than 1,500 soybean buyers from 20 countries have graduated. In addition to tours and technical learning, participants engaged with state leaders and experienced Indiana’s food and culture firsthand.

Indiana State Rep. Danny Lopez (R-Dist. 39) welcomed the Soybean Oil Masters group during a ceremony on May 22. Lopez highlighted Indiana’s leadership role in producing soybeans and many other farm products. “Indiana views itself as a global player in many industries,” he said. “When it comes to agriculture, and the soybean industry, Indiana is second to none.”

Indiana is the leading producer in the world of high oleic soybeans, which are grown to create a healthier cooking oil that excels in frying and baking applications. To showcase the oil, participants sampled food prepared with it at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during a WNBA game featuring the Indiana Fever, as well as at Victory Field, home of Indianapolis Indians.

Soybean Oil Masters participants

This year the Soybean Oil Masters participants came from Chile, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru and Vietnam. The tours through Indiana included stops at ADM in Frankfort, Ind., Beck’s Hybrids, Pence Group, Fischer Food Grade & Seeds, Kroger supermarket in Fishers, Ind.; research sites at Purdue University; a chef-led hands-on culinary demonstration and several Indiana farms.

The purpose of these tours was to highlight soybean production practices in Indiana and to give international soybean stakeholders an opportunity to interact with farmers.

Among the graduates was Zhengyong Bai with Clara Futura Holdings Inc. in China. He said learning about Indiana farmers’ sustainability efforts to produce their crop is critical to his company’s buying decisions. “I’m looking for high-oleic soybeans, non-GMO soybeans, and organic soybeans,” Bai explained. “We’ve been meeting with some good suppliers.”

USSEC said it appreciates the partnership and investment of Indiana soybean farmers in this global outreach program.

“The Soybean Oil Masters program provides a unique opportunity to immerse global buyers in learning about the U.S. Soy supply chain, from sustainable farm practices to oil refining and soy and human health,” said Will McNair, USSEC Director of Soyfoods and Oil and Global Team Development. “For most attendees, this is the first time they have visited a U.S. soybean farm. I love seeing the excitement and curiosity as attendees learn directly from farmers, processors and other members of the supply chain.”[HV1] 

Hosting trade teams

The Hoosier farmers who hosted tours on their farms included Allen Buchanan, Fowler, Ind.; Adam Sheller, Noblesville, Ind.; Tyler Everett, Lebanon, Ind.; and Chris Eck, Boggstown, Ind.

“Hosting a tour on my farm was a great experience,” said Buchanan, who is a director on the ISA board. “The people on the tour asked good, thoughtful questions, and I believe they learned a lot. This is about building trust between people – between soybean growers and soybean customers.”

The program targets participants from across the soybean oil value chain, including importers, crushers, refiners, consumer goods companies, the hospitality and institutional sectors, chefs and nutritionists. The participants may understand their part of the value chain but lack a detailed understanding for the rest of it.

Eck explained that there is no substitute for building relationships. “Trade visits are a chance to bring our global customers to the farm and show them the quality of the products we grow,” said Eck, also an ISA board director. “These tours are valuable to Indiana soybean farmers. We can show them exactly how the crop is grown, and we can build a relationship that makes them want to return. When we invest in bringing customers here to see how we grow our crops, they’re more likely to stay our customers for years to come.”

According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Hoosier farmers intend to plant more than 5 million acres of soybeans this year. Indiana annually produces more than 330 million bushels of soybeans worth more than $4 billion. Indiana is the fourth-largest soybean-producing state in America.

Program history

Indiana’s soybean checkoff works to increase demand for the crop by developing new markets, supported by partners such as USSEC. The Indiana Soybean Oil Masters program began in Korea eight years ago, where more than 400 soybean oil industry representatives have graduated. Korea remains the leading importer of U.S. soybean oil and an early adopter of high oleic soybean oil. 

USSEC works to maximize the utilization, value and access to markets of U.S. Soy around the world. With offices in more than 80 countries, USSEC supports a wide range of industries in utilizing U.S. Soy products.

In an effort to sell more soybeans, this year’s program featured two days of business-to-business meetings between exporters and importers at the ISA offices in Indianapolis. Seven exporters from this region met individually with representatives from 13 international companies during those meetings.

Visit www.ussec.org for details about U.S. Soy export efforts. For more information about ISA, visit www.incornandsoy.org.

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About Indiana Soybean Alliance: The Indiana Soybean Alliance works to enhance the viability of Indiana soybean farmers through the effective and efficient investment of soybean checkoff funds that protect and promote the interest of Indiana soybean farmers. The ISA works to assist soybean farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement. ISA is led by an elected, farmer board that directs investments of the soybean checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana soybean farmers. Learn more at www.incornandsoy.org

About U.S. Soy Export Council: USSEC focuses on differentiating, building preference and enabling market access for the use of U.S. Soy for human consumption, aquaculture and livestock feed in 80-plus countries internationally. USSEC members represent the soy supply chain including U.S. Soy farmers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses and agricultural organizations. USSEC is funded by the U.S. soybean checkoff, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) matching funds and industry. Please visit www.ussec.org for the latest information, resources and news about USSEC and U.S. Soy internationally.

This communication was funded with Indiana soybean checkoff dollars.