The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance says they recently invited 60 foreign buyers to meet U.S. sellers in Hawaii to discuss identity-preserved grains and oilseeds. Executive Director Eric Wenberg tells Brownfield the Asian buyers are looking for higher quality and, “SSGA’s job is to bring that premium home for the farmer, to convince the foreign buyer that quality is worth paying for, that being up and above that Chicago price means they get the variety-specific crop they need to accomplish a food manufacturing objective.”
Wenberg tells Brownfield demand is there as Asian buyers want a combination of grains and partially-manufactured foods, including “clean soybeans” for tofu and soy milk.