soybean field

USSEC Participates in Feed Association Assemblies in Southern Europe

Spring is a busy time for the feed associations assemblies in southern Europe.
USSEC collaborates with many country level associations including IACA in Portugal, ASSALZOO in Italy, SNIA in France, and CESFAC in Spain, which represent a total of 60 million tons of industrial feed, more than 30 percent of the European market.
Sustainability was a main topic at all of the assemblies. USSEC had the opportunity to be present at all feed association events and to share the story of U.S. Soy sustainability and the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) with feed association members.
Industry innovation and competitiveness are also important subjects at these conferences.

At the Andalucia farm visit.  (Left to right):  Antonio Prada (CADECAP); Kendall Culp (ASA); Scott Singlestad (USB); and Nuria Reventos (farm owner)
At the Andalucia farm visit. (Left to right): Antonio Prada (CADECAP); Kendall Culp (ASA); Scott Singlestad (USB); and Nuria Reventos (farm owner)

In Portugal, the USSEC team discussed U.S. Soy sustainability and quality. Customers appreciated the presentation and gained a better understanding how U.S. farmers produce their crops sustainably.
In Italy, USSEC updated the sustainability situation, giving the association the good news that the SSAP is accepted in the European Feed Manufacturers’ Association’s (FEFAC) sustainability scheme.
The creation of DURALIN, the French organization for sustainable supply in all feed and food chain, SNIA, and the French co-op, has given France a strong direction in its sustainability program.
The SNIA’s annual assembly in Spain was held on June 3. In addition to sustainability, discussions focused on how the most successful businesses must be sustainable and competitive at the same time.
USSEC also participated in the regional feed association assemblies in Galicia and Andalucia, Spain. USSEC had the opportunity at both meetings to talk about SSAP during the general assembly and in one-on-one customer conversations.
The CESFAC Assembly in Spain discussed following France’s model of organizing a roundtable to present sustainability from two different views - government and industry. Lola Herrera, USSEC consultant in southern Spain, moderated the roundtable and had the opportunity to talk about SSAP and how U.S. farmers produce soy sustainably.
United Soybean Board (USB) director Scott Singlestad of Minnesota and American Soybean Association (ASA) director Kendall Culp from Indiana attended the CESFAC assembly where they had the opportunity to meet the main players in the Spanish market. The grower leaders also had the opportunity to visit the NUTRECO head office in Madrid; the port of Cadiz, a main area to import soybean meal; and a farm in Andalucia, which produces fruits, durum wheat and corn. They also travelled to Zamora to visit COBADU, which is an example of a Spanish cooperative that practices “field to table.” The coop has 14,000 association members that produce grains, hogs, cattle, chicken, and other livestock. COBADU produces feed for their association use at two plants, and is currently building a third plant.

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Diego Feo (COBADU); Lola Herrera (USSEC); Kendall Culp (ASA); Scott Singlestad (USB); and Jaime Duque (COBADU) visit a research farm
Jaime Duque (COBADU); Kendall Culp (ASA); Diego Feo (COBADU); Lola Herrera (USSEC); and Scott Singlestad (USB) visit the COBADU plant
Jaime Duque (COBADU); Kendall Culp (ASA); Diego Feo (COBADU); Lola Herrera (USSEC); and Scott Singlestad (USB) visit the COBADU plant