USSEC hosted the 2014 U.S. Soy Buyers Outlook Conference in Seoul, South Korea on November 20.  Participants included purchasing and technical staffs representing the crushing, feed, and soy food industries.  The conference’s objective was to update the target audience on this year’s crop.
USSEC Soy Food Program Marketing Manager Marypat Corbett traveled to Korea from November 19 through 22, escorting two U.S. grower leaders.  American Soybean Association (ASA) director Dave Poppens of South Dakota and United Soybean Board (USB) director James Carrol of Arkansas both participated in this conference.  Mr. Poppens shared information on the production cost of soybeans and corn, along with the corn/soy price ratio, while Mr. Carrol discussed sustainability in soybean production and introduced the new U.S. soy website.  Other conference topics included this year’s crop quality, the supply and demand situation of soybeans and soybean products, and the health benefits of soybeans to humans.
After the conference, grower leaders visited a local tofu and soy sprout plant that utilizes U.S. soybeans and observed the production process.  The grower leaders and food company executives discussed soybean quality suitable for tofu and sprout production and soybean packaging size desired by the soy food industry.