Conversations in Washington about policies and issues play a crucial and complex role in shaping market outcomes. As the hub of U.S. policymaking, the city facilitates high-stakes dialogue and strategic alliances that influence both domestic and global markets.

It’s no coincidence, then, that Washington serves as the venue for one of the agricultural sector’s most impactful international gatherings, one where regulatory shifts, economic priorities and trade strategies converge.

Hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), Soy Connext is a premier event where buyers, sellers, traders, producers and other key industry members from across the world gather to build partnerships, explore market opportunities, share research and work toward sustainable supply chain solutions.

The 2025 Soy Connext event took place in Washington from Aug. 20-22, with more than 730 participants from 59 countries. The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) was proud to sponsor the event alongside 32 other supporting organizations.

This conference allows ISA to accomplish many crucial meetings efficiently and effectively in one centralized location rather than spending time and resources traveling to multiple countries. At ISA’s sponsored booth, we held private meetings with customers from countries such as Indonesia and Taiwan and met with members of the Soy Excellence Center.

Reflecting on this year’s event, I’m proud of the meaningful relationships ISA built and strengthened with our global partners and their trust in our high-quality products. At its core, Soy Connext is about bringing together the brightest minds in the soybean industry. Through collaboration and trusted relationships, conflicts are more easily resolved and new opportunities arise. As a result, there’s a big payoff for American farmers and international trade partners alike.

Consumer Trends and Market Opportunities
Soybeans play a vital role across a range of industries including food, livestock feed, biofuels and oil production. The sheer number of markets and products in which soybeans are used can be overwhelming. One session focused on current trends in the soy-based food space. The panelists dove into the science behind soy
and human health, focusing on the areas that drive consumer demand.

Higher protein intake remains widely popular in health, fitness and functional sport communities. Soybeans, as a complete protein, are among the best plant-based sources of protein. Insights such as these help us identify those opportunities that our customers are interested in and develop strategies to increase our market share in the food sector.

The session also addressed the role of soy in healthy aging. A 7-Eleven merchandiser shared that Japan attributes the longevity of its population, in part, to a soy-rich diet. It is those global perspectives that open doors for U.S. producers and associations to introduce soybean products into untapped markets.

We often view soy differently than our customers do. I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear different viewpoints and better understand what our customers need. Although events such as Soy Connext educate our customers about the U.S. soybean product, we also get to learn what they expect from our products and the challenges they face. It’s a two-way exchange when it comes to these kinds of meetings.

A High-Quality Product
Although expanding markets and developing innovative solutions remained at the forefront of the event, it’s also important to mention the strength of our current product. Soy Connext hosted many discussions on the state of soybean production, including valuable data and economic insights.

Total U.S. soybean acreage has declined slightly in 2025, yet the crop is performing well and is projected to achieve record yields, making this year another opportunity to deliver abundant, high-quality products to our global customers.

There has also been growing attention on soy’s amino acid profile and its positive impact on livestock energy efficiency and digestibility. Soybeans provide a high-quality, balanced amino acid composition that aids the growth and development of livestock.

Research on this topic continues to expand, and ISA is closely monitoring how it could positively impact production and market opportunity going forward. We predict that as more research is conducted, it will continue to show a positive correlation between soy-based feed and improved animal product quality.

Going Back to Our Roots
In addition to participating in the Soy Connext event, ISA recently hosted several international trade teams on local Illinois farms. These visits gave customers a front-row seat to the soybean production process and created space for productive dialogue between farmers and global buyers.

This year, ISA welcomed trade teams from South America, Europe and China. These farm visits allowed our customers to see soybeans in the field and ask producers key questions. Additionally, the trade teams visited industry partners such as ADM, which provided a unique opportunity to see the soybean production cycle in its entirety.

Throughout both the conference and farm visits, one theme stayed at the forefront: producing high-quality, reliable products. Although international customers already recognize and respect the great product Illinois puts forth, we took the conversation deeper by sharing these local practices and clearing up confusion regarding the food supply chain.

Looking Toward the Future
Cultivating global relationships doesn’t end here. Every day, ISA remains committed to promoting the U.S. soybean industry both domestically and abroad. We believe in the power of face-to-face connection, and we hope our visitors will share the information they learned with their colleagues.

You can stay up to date with our domestic and global initiatives by visiting our website and trade map at ilsoy.org. There, you can track where your soybeans are going and learn how ISA works to expand your market opportunities.

We’ll keep driving demand and opening new doors in the market. You keep doing what you do best: growing the highest-quality soybeans in the country.