USSEC recently escorted the Japan Next Generation Soyfood Leadership Team on a U.S. tour through parts of Iowa, Illinois and Ohio.  This nine day tour from September 15-24 included a visit to the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa and touched on areas of the soy industry pertinent to the Japanese team such as tofu, natto, miso, soy milk, protein, trading company and sorting machines, among others.  The Japan Next Generation Soyfood Leadership Team aims to lead the next generation of the country’s soyfood industry by boosting the soybean as a traditional Japanese food with the objective of building a network between U.S. and Japanese soybean teams with an emphasis on the security and safety of food soybeans.  The team learned about the U.S. soy industry’s detailed handling of Identity Preserved (IP) non-GMO soybeans that prevents these beans from being mixed with genetically modified crops and about the stable supply of non-GMO American soybeans.  Japan has shown an even greater interest in U.S. soy lately with some recent difficulties in the Canadian soy supply.
A follow-up meeting to evaluate the visit to the U.S. was held in Akasaka, Japan on October 22 followed by a teambuilding wrap-up event at Lawry’s Prime Rib.  Minister-Counselor for Agricultural Affairs for the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo David Miller and Agricultural Attaché / Agricultural Trade Office Deputy Director at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Japan, Evan Mangino sent a message of support to the Japanese soyfood industry.
USSEC will utilize the teamwork built in this visit by continuing to work on activities aimed at ensuring the stable supply of U.S. soybean food products as it continues its market expansion and export promotion.