Iowa Corn recently welcomed two international trade teams as part of the Export Exchange global conference, hosted by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy, and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The visits provided international buyers and traders an opportunity to learn more about U.S. commodities and explore potential business partnerships with Iowa corn farmers.
The first trade team included delegates from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, who visited Iowa State University to attend a seminar on corn fermentation, co-products, and feed milling methods. The team also toured the POET ethanol plant in Shell Rock and experienced the corn harvest with local farmers, Mark Mueller and Steve Kuiper, both members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA). They concluded their visit with a trip to Two Rivers Cooperative in Pella to observe the elevator storage and loading process.
Following the Export Exchange event, a second trade team from Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, and Tunisia visited Iowa to learn about the U.S. marketing system and export value chain for feed grains. Their tour included visits to an ADM facility in Burlington to see corn being loaded onto barges, Big River Resources for an ethanol plant tour, and a farm visit with Dan Keitzer, ICGA District 9 Director, to learn about corn and hog production.
“With over 97% of the world’s population living outside the U.S., it's crucial for us to engage global customers,” said Steve Kuiper, ICGA District 8 Director. “As the top corn producer in the U.S., we need to continue building demand with other countries, and the connections made during these visits help move our product to new markets.”
The trade teams’ visits provided a comprehensive view of the U.S. agricultural value chain, strengthening relationships between Iowa farmers and international buyers, and supporting future business opportunities.