Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, Illinois farmer, American Soybean Association (ASA) Director, and Chair for the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), recently had the opportunity to join a team of farmers who traveled to Rome to meet with global food security organizations, such as the U.N. World Food Program as well as Ghana to see WISHH’s work in aquaculture, poultry and human foods.
“There’s no better way to fully understand the work WISHH accomplishes than to see it in-person,” says Simpson-Dolbeare. “We visited Harimat Farms, a beneficiary of the WISHH U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress AMPLIFIES program, to see how his business has continued to grow.”
The Food for Progress Program helps developing countries and emerging democracies modernize and strengthen their agricultural sectors. U.S. agricultural commodities donated to recipient countries are sold on the local market and the proceeds are used to support agricultural, economic, or infrastructure development programs.
“We also participated in a graduation ceremony for partner Flosell Farms’ interns,’ says Simpson-Dolbeare. “They are the bright leaders of Ghana’s aquaculture sector. Samuel Ntim from Yedent Agro Group Of Companies also updated us on his growing soy-based product lines.”
Flosell Farms is a leading aquaculture company in Ghana committed to producing high-quality, healthy fish for the Ghanaian community and West Africa. They work to bring together local resources and aquaculture best practices in an environmentally-responsible manner.
Yedent Agro Group Of Companies produces healthy and affordable cereal foods for Ghana, Africa and beyond. They offer a wide range of food research for institutions and corporate bodies. In collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, they produce custom cereal food products for schools, hospitals and other sister companies.
“Investments from USDA, United Soybean Board (USB), and the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) allow WISHH to connect trade, development and food security in markets like Ghana,” says Simpson-Dolbeare. “Being there in person let me see firsthand the importance of developing trade for U.S. soy in countries where we can help build capacity for improved food security as well.”
