When looking to solidify working relationships with other groups, memorandums of understanding (MOUs) help create clear trade priorities and confirm practices key to efficient trade flows for all parties.

In 2021, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has signed several MOUs with industry and government leaders, signaling the growth of relationships and the use of U.S. grains and co-products around the world.

In September, USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand met with Ecuadorian government and industry leaders to sign MOUs to further advance ethanol use in the country. The MOUs will position ethanol as a cost-effective solution to decarbonize transportation and improve fuel quality in the region, solidifying a long-term Council effort to increase U.S. market share for corn co-products, including both U.S. distiller’s dried grains (DDGS) and ethanol.

Later in the year, the Council signed two MOUs with government leaders and industry professionals in Vietnam. The MOUs will help build Vietnam’s feed, livestock and agriculture industries; secure purchases of U.S. corn and DDGS; and suggest the easing of tariffs on ethanol and corn.

MOU signings in Morocco in 2021 demonstrated the Council’s investment in the poultry and aquaculture industries there. The first signing took place between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service USDA/(FAS), the Council, and the Moroccan Poultry Association (FISA). It outlined three-year project to overcome weaknesses in the Moroccan poultry processing and distribution system. The Council received a USDA grant at the time of the signing to promote the development of the aquaculture industry in Morocco, the subject of a second MOU signed.

As the Council remains committed to looking for opportunities to expand exports and U.S. grains in all forms (GIAF), signing MOUs with governments or industries allows for agreement on how nations can work together to benefit all parties.