The U.S. Grains Council’s efforts to promote co-product use reached more than 160 representatives from Central America, South America, North Africa and the Middle East this fall with buyers’ conferences that complemented nutrition short courses.

“All of the buyers are currently importing feed grains, so they are familiar with the import process,â€� explained Chris Corry, USGC senior director of international operations. “But the vast majority of buyers, while they are aware of these co-products, haven’t yet committed the time and resources to develop internal markets for them. Some were even skeptical about long-term supplies.

“So our focus was on DDGS (distiller’s dried grains with solubles) and corn gluten.�

The buyer conferences each included a half-day for one-on-one meetings between buyers and sellers. “This definitely facilitated trade,â€� he reported. “The buyers could schedule 30-minute meetings with individual suppliers. At the Panama conference, all the available time slots were filled, and we know deals were being made.â€� 

A second buyer conference took place this week in Geneva with similar results.

To complement the buyer program, the Council brought nutritionists from the same companies to Kansas and Arkansas for short courses on co-product use in livestock nutrition.

“We realize that the buyers decide the purchases, but we also know they confer with their company nutritionists,� Corry said. “Now the nutritionists will be able to tell the buyers at what price co-products will sell and how co-products can fit into their feed formulations.�

Nutritionists from the swine and dairy sectors completed short courses at Kansas State’s International Grains Program. Poultry representatives primarily trained at the University of Arkansas.

The Council also surveyed participants to determine how perceptions and knowledge levels changed regarding DDGS and corn gluten. “The change we saw in before-and-after opinions was drastic,� Corry reported. “For example, 60 percent of the attendees in Panama had never imported any of these co-products before.�