More than 200 international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and co-products from more than 50 countries arrived in Minneapolis this week for Export Exchange 2022, ready to meet with nearly 300 U.S. suppliers and service providers across the value chain.
Co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Export Exchange 2022 offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to meet and build relationships with domestic suppliers of corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), sorghum and other commodities.
“At a time when there is a clear need for international trade, Export Exchange is critical for our industry,” said Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. “It is essential for us to strengthen the bonds between suppliers and partner countries, and the connections made this week will not only help propel our industry this year, but for years to come.”
Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Petersen and the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs and the Trade Counsel to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Jason Hafemeister, kicked off Export Exchange 2022, today in Minneapolis.
USGC’s assistant director for Europe and the Middle East Reece Cannady rounded out the speakers during the first general session, tackling the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report that was released on Oct. 5 and shared his perspective on what this means for both buyers and sellers around the world.
Other speakers on Thursday included:
– “Inflation, Monetary Policy and Commodities” – Arlan Suderman, StoneX
– “Shipping and Logistics Overview” – Jay O’Neil, HJ O’Neil Commodity Consulting
– “DDGS Global PS&D” – Matt Fitzhum, CHS
– “Pet Food Outlook” – Lisa Schole, Evolve Consulting
– “Aquafeed Demand” – Ronnie Tan, U.S. Grains Council
Tomorrow, the final day of the event, will include economic outlooks for poultry, pork and beef by Brett Stuart from Global AgriTrends; advantages of sorghum offered by Norma Ritz-Johnson of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program; a panel discussing the advantages of buying U.S. corn including Dr. Alvaro Garcia, South Dakota State University, Shane Mueller, North Dakota State University and Dr. Vijay Singh, University of Illinois; and a high-protein DDGS nutritional overview by Dr. Jerry Shurson, University of Minnesota.
More information on the event is available at www.exportexchange.org or on social media at #ExEx22.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.