Charged with building demand and creating a preference for U.S. Soy, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) seeks out research, encourages innovation and the adoption of new technologies in animal and aquaculture nutrition across eight regions. USSEC welcomes Courtney Knupp to the team as focus area director for animal and aquaculture nutrition meal, effective immediately.

In this position, Knupp is responsible for managing the global portfolio for USSEC’s Animal and Aqua programs with stakeholders, collaborating with the United Soybean Board’s vice president of meal, and directing the development of a strategic utilization plan in this program area.

Knupp reports to the senior director of market development, Karey Claghorn.

“We are thrilled to have Courtney join the USSEC team in this position,” Claghorn said. “She brings the unique combination of policy and international business with a focus on research and animal health to the table. Her familiarity with USDA and its international programs will allow her to easily navigate the funding requirements while driving our programs forward and exploring new opportunities.”

Knupp comes to USSEC from the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she served a number of roles, including chief of staff for the assistant secretary of administration; chief of staff for Research, Education and Economics; and senior policy advisor for the Foreign Agricultural Service. She also spent four years as director of international trade policy for the National Pork Producers Council where she directed regulatory trade policy efforts on behalf of more than 60,000 American pork producers and 42 affiliated state associations to expand exports of U.S. pork and pork products.

She also brings scientific expertise to the table having worked for BASF as product manager of the company’s U.S. Corn Fungicides and Elanco as marketing associate consultant, senior marketing associate for U.S. Swine and sales representative for U.S. Beef.

Knupp is a graduate of Iowa State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in agricultural business with a minor in international agriculture.

“We believe Courtney is the right person for this job, and I look forward to seeing her skills and expertise at work on behalf of U.S. Soy,” said Claghorn.

Please help us welcome Courtney to the team. She can be reached at cknupp@ussec.org.