4 minute read
Strengthening the Soy Value Chain
By Olivia Key
As our Illinois Field & Bean readers know, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Market Development team has seen significant growth over the past few months. This expansion has resulted in new priorities, increased resources, and heightened energy, all aimed at strengthening the soy value chain. One of the team’s main goals is cultivating markets for Illinois soybeans within the feed industry, emphasizing the nutritional benefits of soy as a valuable source of protein and fat in feed products.
Given that the poultry and livestock feed industries are the primary consumers of soybeans and soybean meal, ISA actively collaborates with the Illinois Livestock Development Group (ILDG). Formed by six organizations - Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Milk Producers Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, and ISA - ILDG aims to boost the profitability of Illinois farmers through collaboration and education.
Tim Rendall, ISA Domestic Markets Manager, says, “Our relationship with Illinois animal ag commodity groups is very important to ISA, as we want to partner with them, step by step, to develop their markets in Illinois. This, in turn, will increase the demand for Illinois soy within our own state.” Rendall adds, “ILDG is currently going through a period of growth. They’ve hired a business developer, which poses a great opportunity for the organization to grow and will help further the missions of each commodity group involved.”
Additionally, ISA's commitment extends beyond positive partnerships to encompass investments in research to increase the use of soybeans in animal feed. “In order to move forward, you need to know where you are, and the FY24 research projects ISA is funding do a great job of providing the scientific rigor that's needed to baseline where we are right now. Funding research projects allows us to unlock new questions, start looking at things that were previously unknown, and use those learnings to create good investments and understand how we want to move forward as an organization. Overall, it's important to make sure that we're continuing to invest in answering these unknowns and developing new and innovative research,” Rendall says.
Among the ongoing research initiatives is a dairy cow feeding trial at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), which employs a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 12 Holstein cows. This design allows for a comprehensive assessment of treatments, eliminating potential variations from the "time effect" and "cow effect." Additionally, UIUC researchers are conducting poultry nutrition research aimed at better determining the nutritional value of soybean meal, which is crucial for the rapidly expanding global poultry industry. The research evaluates soybean meal's nutrient digestibility and its additional benefits for gut health, evaluating factors such as trypsin inhibitor and lectin levels, particularly relevant for poultry in hot climates.
In the realm of international market opportunities, ISA continues to support the growth of the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) program. An initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the program provides protein enterprises with workforce training and capacity-building programs to boost productivity in the protein value chain of emerging markets. SEC programs have been established across the Americas, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia since 2019.
Notably, the ISA Market Development Committee embarked on a mission to Southeast Asia in January. The group of seven board members and five ISA staffers visited the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam to explore soybean meal market opportunities for Illinois farmers.
Because 60 percent of Illinois soybeans are exported to destinations around the globe, it's important to invest in initiatives supporting the expansion of international markets, especially in the animal agriculture sector, for the prosperity of Illinois soybean farmers. ISA International Markets Manager Eileen Pabst says, “As the global population continues to grow, so does the prevalence of food insecurity and the need for protein. Soy finds itself in a unique position to address food insecurity by serving as a high-quality protein source for both humans and animals.” Pabst further explains that supporting the development of global markets not only benefits consumers but also holds advantages for all U.S. soybean farmers.
