WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 20, 2024 — The American Soybean Association, ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council are pleased to be recipients of a second round of funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). The RAPP 2 award will be invested in international market diversification and growth of U.S. soybean exports to help meet increasing protein demand and support nutrition security in global markets.
Caleb Ragland, ASA president and soy farmer from Magnolia, Kentucky, said, “The American Soybean Association and our allied soy groups are exceptionally pleased to be included in the second round of RAPP grants, funding that will continue to open doors for U.S. agriculture exports in emerging markets. Soy is proud to be our country’s #1 ag export, but that does not mean we can sit idle: We pride ourselves on finding innovative, collaborative ways to tap and expand markets for our high-protein, high-quality beans and remain relevant in an increasingly competitive global field. This second round of RAPP funding will bolster U.S. Soy’s existing efforts and our own financial commitments to expand in promising regions, including Africa, Latin America and Asia. We thank Secretary Vilsack and the administration for their ongoing support of U.S. farmers and helping us grow and diversify our markets.”
“The RAPP program has quickly demonstrated its critical and timely value, and we commend Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and USDA FAS for their strategic and visionary work in creating it,” said Lance Rezac, USSEC chair and Kansas farmer. “The addition of Europe as a targeted region in the RAPP 2 program further supports USSEC’s longstanding work and mission to diversify markets and grow exports for U.S. soybean farmers. With this award, USSEC is able to broaden our reach into new and high potential early-stage markets, implement innovative approaches to unlocking new demand, and further enhance our marketing and promotion programs worldwide.”
“Strategic use of RAPP funding is enabling WISHH to expand poultry best management trainings and technology transfer in key markets in West Africa, building resilient value chains that are critical to enabling trade for U.S. Soy, as well as supporting our work in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and other parts of Africa,” said WISHH Chair Morey Hill. “Trade promotion programs are essential for U.S. soybean farmers to grow market access, add regional capacity in emerging markets, and address technical barriers to entry. We appreciate the support of USDA FAS and Secretary Vilsack and look forward to leveraging the funding toward further advancement of the WISHH mission to develop agricultural value chains in emerging markets, creating trade and long-term demand for U.S. Soy.”
###
About American Soybean Association: ASA represents U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international policy issues important to the soybean industry. ASA has 26 affiliated state associations representing 30 soybean-producing states and nearly 500,000 soybean farmers. More information at soygrowers.com.
About WISHH: ASA/WISHH connects trade and development across global market systems, improving food security. Knowing that protein plays an essential role in human nutrition, visionary U.S. soybean growers founded WISHH in 2000 to serve as a catalyst in emerging markets. WISHH brings the power of strategic partnerships to our unique market-systems approach. Local business leaders, non-governmental organizations as well as academic institutions join us in increasing demand and fueling economic growth for the sustained availability of nutritious and affordable human foods and livestock feeds. WISHH is a program of the American Soybean Association and is funded in part by the United Soybean Board and state soybean board checkoff programs. USB’s vision is to deliver sustainable soy solutions to every life, every day.
About U.S. Soybean Export Council: The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of U.S. Soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in 80+ 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 matching funds, and industry. Visit www.ussec.org for the latest information on U.S. Soy solutions and news about USSEC and U.S. Soy internationally.
For more information contact:
Jordan Bright
American Soybean Association
jbright@soy.org
Kerrey Kerr-Enskat
U.S. Soybean Export Council
kenskat@ussec.org
