International trade teams representing 34 countries are visiting U.S. soybean farms, processing facilities, ports and other value chain partners as part of the U.S. Soybean Export Council's flagship Soy Connext convention.
More than 700 attendees from 59 countries are participating in this year's event, which aims to strengthen global market relationships amid rising demand for soybeans worldwide.
"Soy Connext is not just about celebrating the strength of U.S. Soy," said Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO. "It's about demonstrating our commitment to providing consistent, reliable and high-quality products that meet the needs of diverse international markets."
U.S. soybeans are America's top agricultural export, contributing $31.2 billion to the economy in the 2023-24 marketing year and are traded in more than 80 countries.
This year's international trade teams visited 26 farms and made 40 industry visits across 17 states, including major soy-producing states such as Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Ohio.
The visits highlight the industry's transparency and showcase sustainable farming practices to international buyers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects global soybean demand will increase 4.3% in the 2024-25 marketing year, reaching 346.2 million metric tons.
"Global diversification is not a future ambition — it's today's reality," Sutter said.
