USSEC: strong relationships boost U.S. exports 

By Colby Pinkstone, USSEC Executive Director of International Strategy 

As an organization, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) believes that working together elevates everyone. USSEC actively works with other agricultural export organizations, like the U.S. Agricultural Development Export Council, which aims to preserve, differentiate and expand American ag exports. 

USSEC willingly serves as a leader for all U.S. agricultural exports, as CEO Jim Sutter demonstrated as chair of that council a few years ago. 

Together, we address common issues and create a unified voice for U.S. agriculture. Encouraging international customers to purchase U.S. products benefits U.S. Soy – and Indiana farmers. Nourishing strong relationships with similar organizations allows USSEC to serve global customers better. 

Commodity collaboration 

For years, USSEC has teamed up with the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council (USGBC), U.S. Wheat Associates, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and others to host events around the world. 

For example, in June 2025, a Cooperators Conference in Mexico focused on animal nutrition strategies for animal feed, aquaculture, poultry and swine companies in the Americas. 

In September 2025, at least 400 leaders from more than 20 East Asian countries gathered in Indonesia to focus on food security, supply chains and long-term ag trade at another Cooperators Conference. In China, USSEC yearly co-hosts the U.S.-China Agricultural Products Trade Cooperation Forum with USGBC. 

Event attendees often purchase multiple U.S. commodities, and they value connecting with all their U.S. suppliers in one place. Many participating U.S. exporters also sell multiple commodities, so they can discuss their entire portfolios. These events showcase the efficient logistics and abundant, sustainable supply of U.S. agricultural products. 

Value-added U.S. exports 

U.S. Soy gets exported as more than just soybeans, meal and oil. Domestically, animal agriculture consumes the most soy. U.S. meat and poultry exports add value to U.S. Soy before exporting it. 

That leads USSEC to exciting opportunities to promote multiple U.S. exports. 

For example, in Vietnam, USSEC and the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) collaborated with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to host a Traditional Cake Festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Teams competed to creatively make sticky rice cakes using U.S. pork ribs combined with 30 percent U.S. Soy in the filling. 

When India reduced its tariff on turkey imports, USSEC teamed up with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) to host a viewing of an International Cricket Championship finale in India. The menu featured U.S. turkey and U.S. soy nuts, highlighting the importance of protein in diets to participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. 

Promoting U.S. sustainability 

As a member of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance, USSEC highlights the documented sustainability of U.S. Soy and other commodities. The Alliance targets markets that prioritize that quality in their imports. 

For example, a small U.S. delegation visited Denmark, Sweden and Poland in October 2025 to see how local farmers, industries and governments prioritize sustainability. They explained U.S. regulatory frameworks, conservation programs and industry-led verification systems that apply to U.S. Soy and other commodities. 

Working with the U.S. Sustainability Alliance helps correct misperceptions about U.S. agriculture by delivering facts and regulation-focused information. As we demonstrate the depth of science, law and monitoring that supports U.S. sustainability programs, we strengthen the credibility of efforts like the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol, or SSAP, that verifies the sustainability of Indiana soybeans. 

Working together, USSEC and other organizations are growing export markets for Indiana farmers.