The second Americas Buyers Conference, organized by USSEC, took place on November 4-5 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  This event gathered a group of more than 70 participants from around the region, mostly representing major customers and leading feed and crushing industry associations.  Sectors represented included all those relevant to USSEC such as animal utilization, human utilization, aquaculture and grains and oilseeds processors, from 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.  A group of 20 USSEC, United Soybean Board (USB) and industry representatives along with a series of expert speakers hosted the group and conducted the conference program.  The program was built to target executive level customers, allowing for high profile exchange of experiences and networking.

USSEC CEO Jim Sutter and USSEC board member and USB director Bob Metz met separately with two Mexican Feed industry presidents and held a second meeting with the CEOs of the National Grain and Oilseed Buyers’ Council (CONAGO).  These meetings helped USSEC gain a firsthand understanding of customers’ needs and allowed a discussion of USSEC’s regional efforts, as well as strengthening relationships.  For the first time at this event, the group included exporters as well as executives from CHS and Bunge in Central America.