U.S. Grains Council Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Ramy Taieb traveled to Turkey in November 2023 to support and learn more about the country’s growing interest in aquaculture cultivation and the associated need for corn-fermented protein and high-protein distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

Taieb arrived in Aydin, Turkey, on Nov. 29 to check on the progress of an aquaculture feeding trial sponsored by the Council and its partners. The trial is the second of its kind conducted at Aydin Adnan Menderes University, focusing on the nutritional health of seabass and seabream when corn co-products are added to their diets.

“Quality research and testing is a vital part of increasing consumer awareness of what new products and techniques can bring to the agricultural supply chain,” Taieb said. “I expect the results of this study will show that U.S. corn co-products are highly valuable additives to aquaculture diets and create more opportunities for U.S. exports to Turkey.”

The results of the trial will be formally unveiled at the Barcelona Aqua Conference, held April 23-25, 2024. Taieb also met with the dean of the university’s faculty of agriculture to discuss further cooperation for aquaculture research and training programs in Turkey and the surrounding region.

The Council has been active in introducing U.S. DDGS producers and exporters to the Turkish market in addition to the trials and educational opportunities for Turkish industry leaders, and it has paid dividends so far. Turkey imported 673 metric tons of DDGS from January-September 2023, 75 percent of which was U.S.-origin.

On Nov. 30, Taieb traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, to participate in the Feed Grains, Fats and Oils Conference where he was joined by USGC consultants working in Turkey and Egypt as well as U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service staff, one of the Council’s most important allies in opening and developing markets for U.S. exports.

The group was able to meet with vital supply chain actors including importers, traders and major end-users of U.S. corn co-products to better understand their needs for the future.

“It’s always a pleasure to attend these conferences and see so many of the Council’s partners and fellow industry stakeholders gathered for a common goal of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives,” Taieb said.