International Soy Buyers to Converge on Quad Cities for USSEC Event
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The U.S. Soybean Export Council will be holding the first annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange from September 16-18,2013, immediately following the organization's annual meeting. The event, which is in collaboration with Midwest Shippers Association’s 10th annual conference and trade show, will take place in the Quad Cities.
USSEC has already arranged participation in the event for over 100 foreign trade delegation members from China, North Asia, South East Asia, Latin America, Maghreb, Middle East and the Greater European region. These attendees are key international buyers dedicated to the importation of soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil, IP and non-GMO soybeans, isolates, concentrates, soy flour and more.
Joined by the Mississippi River, the riverfront cities of Moline/East Moline and Rock Island, Illinois, and Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa, make up the Quad Cities. With a visit to the Quad Cities area, visitors instantly recognize the importance of agriculture to this Midwestern area.
Agriculture has always been an important part of this area. Iowa is the top producer of corn and Illinois leads the country in soybean production. In combination with the rich farmland, the Mississippi River provides a “highway” for distribution of these exports. The river supports between 30 to 45 percent of total U.S.soybean exports. Over 90 percent of soybean exports from the Gulf of Mexico were transported via barges on the Mississippi River.
In the Quad Cities, visitors are able to learn about the river from the onsite park rangers and view barges as they go through Lock and Dam 15 carrying grain, petroleum, gravel, coal,chemicals, and other essential products up and down the river. And it was the Mississippi River, available land, and available resources that brought John Deere to Moline, Illinois, in 1848, where he began a steel plow manufacturing business that revolutionized the farming industry.
To learn how you can participate in or sponsor this event, click here.