More than 485 individuals logged into the U.S. Grains and Soy Buyers Conference over the event’s three-day duration in early August, indicative of the strong interest and potential demand for U.S. coarse grains, oilseeds and co-products in Southeast Asia.
“Southeast Asia is a very fluid market, and allowing customers and exporters to interact - whether in person or virtually - is extremely valuable,” said Caleb Wurth, USGC assistant director of Southeast Asia. “It is important our customers are able to hear from our exporters themselves.”
USGC has worked with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to jointly conduct buyers conferences for the last 18 years, establishing this annual conference as a premier industry event that brings together high-level executives from major feed, livestock production and grain trading companies in Southeast Asia.
This year’s virtual effort continued bringing together decision-makers and influencers in the Southeast Asian agricultural community with industry thought leaders and exporters to share knowledge and viewpoints on the future of global food and agriculture, including the U.S. quality advantage. The virtual program also provided ample time for one-on-one interaction and networking.
“Our goal for this conference was for participants to come away with a broad appreciation of the key factors driving agriculture today,” Wurth said. “These strategic insights help provide direction in moving the business forward while managing risk.”
The virtual nature of the program allowed more customers to participate in the conference, including the junior traders and managers of USGC's partner companies. Their inclusion provided much-needed exposure to U.S. coarse grains, co-products and oilseeds these staff members may have otherwise missed.
“It is important USGC and USSEC continue to deliver on our mission virtually, even when we cannot meet in person,” Wurth said. “The conference has proven to be a successful event that facilitates interactions between importers and exporters, resulting in actual sales of U.S. coarse grains, co-products and oilseeds.”
While both organizations look forward to returning to a physical annual conference in the future, the advantages of the virtual platform will likely remain a component of these buyers conferences as well. The hybrid approach mirrors how USGC’s staff in Southeast Asia has adapted to using a virtual environment to engage with multinational teams and associations, mitigate myriad non-tariff trade barriers, execute aquaculture feeding trials, identify new target areas of growth and create official coalitions.
“Southeast Asia is a very engaged market,” Wurth said. “Importers here grab onto any chance they get to receive market updates and hear about the latest technologies. This enthusiasm is why our partnerships are so strong.”
Learn more about the conference by watching the summary video with reactions from customers.
