[Mumbai, India]: The Honorable Kimberly (Kim) K. Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, met with key agribusiness leaders during a roundtable discussion hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) in Mumbai on September 16, 2024. This meeting was a part of a larger trade mission being led by the Governor to explore investment opportunities, build relationships and expand trade in India.
Reflecting on the event, Governor Reynolds added, “During my time in India, I have learned that Iowa’s and India’s values and agricultural goals are aligned in many ways. This coalition demonstrates the strong relationship our two countries have and will be a catalyst for long-term success. Iowa is not only a great place to work, live, and invest but it can be a strong partner for agricultural trade to support India’s growth in the years to come.”
In 2022, U.S.-India trade of goods and services was valued at an estimated $191.8 billion.[1] But the potential for bilateral trade expansion and economic growth is yet to be unlocked. India and Iowa share many commonalities, as both rely on agriculture as the foundation for their economy. For example, India is a leading country in egg production and Iowa is the largest producer of eggs in the United States.
Under Governor Kim Reynolds’ leadership, the India/Iowa coalition was formed with Balram Yadev of Godrej Agrovet and Brent Johnson of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation as inaugural co-chairs, with USSEC as the convener. This significant partnership aims to increase cooperation in mutually beneficial activities focusing on food and nutrition security. Both India and Iowa are already aligned in their efforts toward workforce development, with Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Skills India’ initiative and Governor Reynolds’ ‘Preparing Iowa’s Next-Gen Workforce’ vision highlighting common goals in developing human capital and driving economic growth.
Remarking on this achievement, Mr. Yadev, Managing Director of Godrej Agrovet added “Collaboration is a key pillar to achieving success. Both Iowa and India share many agricultural commonalities and we’re proud to be a co-chair on this historic achievement. Our actions here will pave the way for prosperity for many years to come.”
USSEC works in international markets across the globe, advancing global nutrition through capacity-building, knowledge sharing and delivering solutions across animal and human utilization sectors. This new alliance between India and Iowa will help expand market access, paving the way for a food and nutrition secure future.
“As India’s economy rapidly expands, two common constraints will emerge—access to raw materials and upskilling its labor force. USSEC stands at the vanguard of addressing these two challenges and we’re proud to bring together a coalition of India titans and partners from Iowa to act as a catalyst for India’s continued growth,” remarked Kevin Roepke, Regional Director for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa for the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
Other notable attendees at the roundtable included The Honorable Michael (Mike) Naig, Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Iowa; Brent Swart, President – Board of Directors of the Iowa Soybean Association; Sandeep Singh, CEO of Bunge India; Sanjeev Asthana, CEO of Patanjali and Sudhakar Desai, CEO of Emami.
About the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC):
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 ussec.org for the latest information and news about USSEC and U.S. Soy internationally.
About Godrej Agrovet Limited
Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) is a diversified, Research & Development focused agri- business Company, dedicated to improving the productivity of Indian farmers by innovating products and services that sustainably increase crop and livestock yields. GAVL holds leading market positions in the different businesses in which it operates - Animal Feed, Crop Protection, Oil Palm, Dairy and Poultry and Processed Foods.
GAVL has a pan India presence with sales of over a million tonnes annually of high-quality animal feed and cutting-edge nutrition products for cattle, poultry, aqua feed and specialty feed. Our teams have worked closely with Indian farmers to develop large Oil Palm Plantations which is helping in bridging the demand and supply gap of edible oil in India. In the crop protection segment, the company meets the niche requirement of farmers through innovative agrochemical offerings. GAVL through its subsidiary Astec Life Sciences Limited, is also a business-to-business (B2B) focused bulk manufacturer of fungicides. In Dairy and Poultry and Processed Foods, the company operates through its subsidiaries Creamline Dairy Products Limited and Godrej Tyson Foods Limited. Apart from this, GAVL also has a joint venture with the ACI group of Bangladesh for animal feed business in Bangladesh.
For more information on the Company, please log on to www.godrejagrovet.com.
About the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
The Iowa Farm Bureau is committed to advancing the people, progress, and pride of Iowa, to create a vibrant future for agriculture, farm families, and their communities.
The organization was born in 1918 out of a need for farmers and rural citizens to help agriculture assume its place in a growing and stable economy. Charter members included farmers, teachers, bankers, lawyers, merchants, local commercial club leaders, chambers of commerce officials, real estate brokers, coal operators, stock buyers, and editors. While much has changed during the past 100 years, one item remains steadfast: the character of Farm Bureau and its hardworking, diverse member families. They remain rooted in the timeless values of hard work, love of community, a passion for the land, and a belief in faith and family.
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This press release is funded in part by the soy checkoff.
For all media queries, please contact: Hibah Ameer (E:hameer@ct.ussec.org | M:+ 92 305 777 9621)
