U.S. soy leaders are participating in the International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD) in Paris, France from June 30-July 2. The U.S. soy delegation includes USSEC CEO Jim Sutter; USSEC Trade Barriers & Industry Relations Manager Randy Olson; Secretary of the USSEC Board of Directors and United Soybean Board (USB) Director Laura Foell; ASA CEO Steve Censky; ASA President Ray Gaesser; USB Chair Jim Call; USB Vice Chairman Bob Haselwood; ASA First Vice President Wade Cowan; USB CEO John Becherer; and Adreani Gustavo.
The IOPD was established in 1994 by oilseed producer leaders principally from the American Soybean Association (ASA) and rapeseed producer groups in the European Union (EU), primarily from France and Germany, to create a forum for dialogue between oilseed growers to discuss common concerns and issues.  The IOPD generally meets once a year with the location rotating among producer groups and nations with the organizing country taking the lead role in planning the agenda and organizing the meetings in consultation with all participants.  At the end of recent meetings, a resolution has been created capturing common points of view and conclusions.  Oilseed groups from the following countries have participated at some time over the years:  Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Malaysia, Paraguay, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The group’s objectives at the IOPD are to meet with other global oilseed producers to discuss issues of common interest and to develop partnerships that can provide support for key market access issues.
On the conference’s first day, participants will receive regional updates and hear about future trends for the oil and protein sector to set the stage for the meetings.  Among the topics that are slated to be discussed at the IOPD are environmental and sustainability issues; biofuels policies; biotechnology issues; and international negotiations.  USSEC will give a presentation on the evolution of the industry during the oil and protein future trends segment.  USB will speak during the portion on environmental and sustainability issues about the U.S. initiative to improve its agriculture public image and ASA will give a presentation on the World Trade Organization (WTO), Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Mercosur during the international negotiations segment.
The delegation will also tour Oléon-Novance, a Sofiprotéol subsidiary that specializes in oleo-chemistry and hear a presentation by PIVERT, a research institute specializing in oils, protein and low carbon energy before taking an agricultural tour of the Senlis area and visiting a farm.  Finally, participants will visit the Valfrance Cooperative in Barbery.