USSEC kicked off the first free webinar in a series for an EU-based food project.  This first half hour session was broadcast on January 30 and was facilitated by USSEC Regional Director - Europe and Middle East North Africa Brent Babb, together with Kate Leavitt, SunOpta USA’s Director of International Sales & Marketing.

The first portion of the webinar focused on educating participants about the sustainability of U.S. soy and the U.S. Soybean Assurance Protocol.  Mr. Babb pointed out that soy demand has risen 158% in the last 20 years and stressed that U.S. farmers must continue to practice sustainability to keep pace with this demand.  He discussed the tools employed by soybean farmers to boost sustainability, such as water management, biodiversity and precision agriculture.  Mr. Babb and Ms. Leavitt both highlighted the four pillars/directives of the U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol:  Biodiversity and High Carbon Stock; Production Practices; Public and Labor Health & Welfare; and Continuous Improvement.  Numerous conservation measures practiced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) were also emphasized.
Soy continues to be the world’s most efficient and abundant source of low cost protein.  The U.S. soy industry is well-positioned to deliver as demand drivers for soybeans such as the crushing of commodity beans; world trade; food use; and demand for low cost protein continue to rise.