USSEC Holds 5th U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Omaha

USSEC, together with the Midwest Shippers Association (MSA), hosted the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange / Midwest Specialty Grains Conference & Trade Show August 15 – 17 in Omaha, Nebraska. More than 250 soy buyers from 58 countries gathered to attend the annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange event.
During the three-day conference, USSEC continued to build a preference for U.S. soybeans in the world market by connecting buyers and sellers of whole soybeans, soybean meal, and soybean oil.
The week’s events kicked off on August 15 with the annual trade team invitational. These meetings, pre-arranged by USSEC, provide USSEC international trade teams and suppliers’ buyers/sellers with an opportunity to forge personal relationships.
USSEC chairman and American Soybean Association (ASA) director Jim Miller said, “We match up the international customer with the U.S. exporter so they can establish contacts and start that line of communication going.”
That evening, participants headed to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha’s Downtown Market area for a networking reception.
The conference officially opened on August 16 with a welcome and opening remarks from USSEC chairman Jim Miller, MSA chairman Andy Bensend, and Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade & Foreign Agricultural Affairs U.S. Department of Agriculture Jason Hafemeister.

 
Ankush Bhandari, Vice President, Economic Research, The Gavilon Group LLC, gave the keynote address, "World Soy & Grain Supply and Demand Outlook for 2017-2018."
A plenary session, “Ocean Shipping Undergoes a Sea Change: How the New Carrier Alliances and Mergers Will Affect Your Global Supply Chain,” was up next. A second plenary session, "U.S. Rail Transportation Outlook for Bulk & Container Commodity Grain Shippers,” followed, with the trade show opening after that.
In the afternoon, breakout sessions were held. Attendees chose from several sessions, including an overview of how the U.S Soy and grain inspection system works, New York shipping exchange, global quality assurance provider, and sustainable sourcing - improve competitiveness in international markets. Next up was a Group Q&A Session on Grain Inspection & Quality Assurance presentations, followed by another plenary session, “U.S. Farmers' Investments in Continuously Improving Oil & Digestibility of U.S. Soybeans.”
The GTE resumed on the morning of August 17 with a keynote address, “The Global Economy - Where are We At, and Where are We Heading,” given by Dr. Walter Kemmsies, Managing Director, Economist & Chief Strategist, JLL U.S. Ports, Airports and Global Infrastructure Group.
Breakout sessions followed with an array of choices: “Outlook for Global Demand and Supply for Animal Protein,” “Meeting Rising Global Consumer Demand for Plant Protein Foods & Ingredients,” The Value of Soybean Meal Made from U.S. Soybeans, a Multi Species Perspective,” and “World Market Demand Outlook for Food Grade Specialty Soybeans.” A plenary forum discussion, “International Trade - Opportunities & Risks for U.S. Agriculture Exports” was next on the agenda.
Final remarks from USSEC CEO Jim Sutter and MSA President and CEO Bruce Abbe closed the 2017 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange/ Midwest Specialty Grains Conference & Trade Show.
To access presentations from the conference, please click here.
Photos courtesy of ZimmComm Media