The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) kicked off its summer with an impactful visit from our Latin American partners through WISHH. This visit brought academic and food industry professionals from Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic to the heart of soybean country. In collaboration with the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), this trade team engagement offered a dynamic platform for exchange centered on innovation, education and the global promise of U.S. soy.

Throughout the July visit, participants engaged directly with an Illinois soybean farmer and industry experts, fostering trust in the U.S. soy supply chain. “Most of the products we produce have soy as an ingredient,” one team member shared, explaining,“This is important for our business, to make sure we have quality and a consistent supply chain.”

This hands-on experience echoed a core WISHH priority: Building global markets through educational partnerships and research-based confidence in U.S. soy. As highlighted in WISHH’s recent update, their work “puts education and innovation at the forefront,” connecting the dots between supply and application in emerging markets like Central America.

Participants pointed to the gap in sensory expectations of human consumers research and development as a critical opportunity in the food sector. One stated, “One of the most important ways to get over that gap is investing in research and development. Working with universities will help that.” Their trip also included time spent at IFT FIRST (Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology) in Chicago that gave way to in-depth conversations among researchers, scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs across the value chain. Aside from working with universities, this event opens the door to start new

conversations and work toward the newest innovations in soy for human consumption.

Beyond product functionality, the delegation emphasized the power of education in shifting perceptions. They want to bring attention to the misconceptions around soy in human diets; one being that soy is inflammatory. By visiting a farm and attending an event such as IFT, these professionals can take extensive knowledge back home and implement new and improved practices to their businesses.

This knowledge-sharing effort is already bearing fruit. From plans to incorporate more soy into their products to research collaborations with major companies like ADM and Cargill, the team left Illinois energized with new approaches to soy innovation. “Being here has given us a different way of incorporating soy into our projects,” a participant said. “With the support of WISHH, we are doing more research at the

university level before doing trials and taking it to market.”

One of the most promising takeaways from the trade team visit was the recognition that soy is not just a cost-effective protein, it is a scalable, sustainable solution. As ISA, WISHH and industry professionals collaborate, we are working to further educate the regular consumer about the benefits of U.S. soy. By providing them with facts and research that supports soy’s place in the food system, we can build food security and nutrition around the world.

From seed to export, ISA remains committed to connecting Illinois soybean farmers with buyers and educators around the world. Through strategic partnerships and visits like this, U.S. soy continues to grow not just as a product, but as a powerful platform for global nutrition, collaboration and innovation.

For more on how WISHH is strengthening these efforts, read their latest coverage: Education and Innovation at Forefront of WISHH’s Trade Team in Illinois