USSEC participated in the Kansas Soybean Expo 2014 held in Topeka on January 8.  USSEC Regional Director – Europe & Middle East / North Africa Brent Babb spoke to attendees on the topic of sustainability and about the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol.

According to Mr. Babb, most American farmers have already implemented processes to reduce environmental impacts such as soil erosion, which positions U.S. farmers to increase production more efficiently than farmers in other countries.  The world will need an estimated 2.5 billion tons more food in 2050 than it currently needs due to population growth.  He added that about 55 percent of American-grown soybeans are already exported, with approximately one-fourth of the U.S. soybean crop going to China.  Mr. Babb presented the four directives of the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance protocol:  biodiversity and high-carbon stock; production practices; the public's and labor's health and welfare; and continuous improvement.