The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council organized a trade mission last week for 10 poultry and swine nutritionists from Central America and the Caribbean to visit grain utilization and logistics operations in Minnesota. The mission aimed to strengthen their technical knowledge and increase their comfort with using U.S. corn co-products in feed formulations.
Participants received firsthand exposure to U.S. production systems, ethanol plants where distiller’s dried grains with solubles are produced, the domestic loading and transportation system, quality control standards and research supporting the nutritional, economic and performance benefits of U.S.-origin corn co-products.
“DDGS and other co-products are an increasingly important component and ingredient used in animal feed formulations in the Central American region, which ranked ninth among U.S. export destinations during the 2025/2026 marketing year,” said Angelica Ríos, USGBC marketing specialist for Latin America, who escorted the team.
Minnesota Corn hosted the group at its headquarters on the first day of the program, bringing together industry experts to discuss feed formulation, U.S. corn production and the role of corn co-products in animal nutrition.
Dr. Scott Tilton of The Andersons, Inc., a USGBC member, and Dr. Pedro Urriola of the University of Minnesota discussed the nutritional characteristics of U.S. DDGS and its applications in poultry and swine diets.
The agenda continued with tours of an ethanol plant and a local family farm, where participants got a detailed look into the production process of U.S. corn co-products and the quality standards applied throughout the industry.
The program concluded with a visit to a local river terminal, where the delegation was shown how DDGS are exported and the safety measures implemented throughout the logistics chain. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture also met with the group to discuss the state’s agricultural production capabilities.
“A benefit of these meetings is the opportunity to exchange technical knowledge and best practices about how these products are used in the United States and other regions,” Ríos said.
The missions enable the Council to identify new business partners and prospective customers for future trade teams and marketing conferences, while expanding technical knowledge of U.S. corn co-products and strengthening connections with U.S. exporters.
