
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently hosted the first Corn Sustainability Strategy Session in Chicago, bringing together key stakeholders from across the corn industry to address the growing importance of sustainability in global markets.
The conference, which attracted growers, executives from leading agricultural organizations, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials, and sustainability experts, focused on leveraging sustainable practices and responding to evolving market requirements in both domestic and international supply chains.
Key highlights of the meeting included:
Alignment of efforts: Participants worked to synchronize domestic and international initiatives along the U.S. corn value chain, aiming to maximize the value of sustainability attributes associated with U.S. corn and its production practices.
Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol (CSAP): Carlos Suárez, USGC director of global sustainability, presented updates on the CSAP and its accompanying Sustainable Corn Exports (SCE) web platform. These tools provide international importers with confidence that their purchases meet policy-based benchmarks and local market demands.
Global perspective: The meeting addressed current sustainability frameworks, responsible aquaculture farming, and how U.S. corn production practices compare to other commodities worldwide.
Industry collaboration: The event showcased the U.S. agricultural industry's commitment to collaboration and sustainable food production on a global scale.
Carlos Suárez emphasized the critical nature of the meeting, stating, "Sustainability disclosures and requirements continue to expand globally across many industries that are key for U.S. corn products. It's critical the U.S. industry stays focused on showcasing the sustainability attributes producers have already achieved and align on how these are measured to effectively showcase the advantages of U.S. corn origin."
Ellen Zimmerman, USGC Director of Industry Relations, highlighted the Council's pride in its relationships across the industry, noting that the meeting "showcased the U.S. agricultural industry's collaboration and collective commitment to sustainably feeding the world."