By Colby Pinkstone, Executive Director, International Strategy, U.S. Soybean Export Council
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating the quality and value of U.S. Soy for global customers, thanks in part to investments from the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). We aim to create and elevate international customer preference for U.S. Soy products.
Nurturing trust in U.S. Soy is at the heart of our work. Trust requires building, strengthening and deepening relationships. Our team blends in-the-trenches support and big-picture strategic insight throughout the global soy supply chain. Their collaboration and commitment create environments where relationships and trust flourish.
These relationships ensure that high-quality U.S. Soy, including Illinois soybeans, reach customers who use it to sustainably nourish people, feed livestock and fish, and strengthen their businesses. Through these relationships, U.S. exports for marketing year 2023/24 totaled 60.8 million metric tons (MMT), valued at $31.2 billion.
“Those numbers reflect more than just trade, they reflect trust. I’ve seen firsthand how our global customers return to U.S. Soy not only for its consistent quality, but because they know they can rely on our growers, our values, and our commitment to sustainability,” said ISA Chairman Ron Kindred.
Our most recent USSEC annual report highlights a remarkable network of relationships that contribute to ongoing demand for U.S. Soy. For example, during the last marketing year, U.S. soybean meal exports set a record of 14.4 million metric tons, valued at $6.7 billion.
Explore our work in animal nutrition, aquaculture, soy foods and soybean oil that [state] soybean farmers make possible in the full annual report.
https://www.flipsnack.com/C7965866AED/ussec_ar24-xnlglalpma/full-view.html
Accelerating Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability has become a critical priority for industries and companies around the world, and U.S. Soy has become an essential part of providing sustainable solutions.
The U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) provides verification and trust in the sustainability of soybeans produced in the U.S. More than 40.5 million metric tons of U.S. Soy products shipped with an SSAP certificate in marketing year 2023/24, covering two-thirds of total exports.
“Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a commitment we live out every day on our farms,” said ISA At-Large Director Jeff O’Connor. The SSAP gives our international customers confidence that U.S. Soy is responsibly grown, and it helps us show the real impact we’re making on soil health, water quality, and carbon reduction.”
SSAP certificates now carry data about the carbon footprint of verified soybeans, facilitating customers’ Scope 3 emissions reporting. This data uses life cycle assessment (LCA) information from the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI). USSEC is the first organization to use GFLI datasets this way.
Such transparency fosters trust in U.S. Soy. To pass this trust on to consumers, USSEC offers the Sustainable U.S. Soy and Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy product labels, which signify responsible sourcing with SSAP-verified soy. More than 1,120 products from 123 companies in 19 countries feature these labels.
USSEC is supporting global progress in sustainability, and that motivates our team to keep moving forward. The 2024 U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol annual report explains how USSEC is accelerating its commitment to sustainability.
https://ussec.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Sustainability-Annual-Report.pdf
Investing in Today for an Abundant Tomorrow
In addition to other export efforts, [QSSB] directly supports the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) program led by USSEC. The SEC delivers trusted professional development for early- to mid-career protein professionals in emerging markets.
Protein demand around the world is projected to grow, and the SEC program is taking the lead in developing educational communities to meet these needs. SEC training builds trust, relationships, and knowledge, as researchers and experts from top U.S. and global universities support curriculum in aquaculture, poultry and feed milling, as well as market-specific courses like food for human use and swine production.
“As a farmer, I’ve always believed that education is one of the strongest investments we can make. The Soy Excellence Centers are building a more connected, knowledgeable global industry—one that understands the value of high-quality, sustainably grown U.S. Soy. I’ve seen how these programs empower professionals and create long-term demand by strengthening the entire protein value chain,” said Mark Read, ISA District 5 Director and GAP Chairman.
The strategic learning centers provide virtual and in-person training in the Americas, Asia, Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Explore how the SEC program is growing achievements, connections and appreciation around the world in the 2024 Soy Excellence Center annual report.
https://www.flipsnack.com/C7965866AED/ussec_sec_ar24_spreads/full-view.html
Together, these reports strive to share the return on investment USSEC provides for the farmers that anchor the U.S. Soy supply chain through ISA and other partners.
