A critical and unique part of the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) programming each year is team travel allowing overseas directors and staff to bring buyers, scientists and other industry members to the United States to see the U.S. grain production system firsthand.
“We aim to provide team participants with a full look at the entire U.S. coarse grains value chain from seed development to export,� said USGC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kimberly Atkins. “Generally the teams will meet with seed tech providers, traders and U.S. corn, barley or sorghum farmers.
“The teams then move to seeing different modes of transportation with their tour ending at an export facility in either the Gulf or the Pacific Northwest, where they will see U.S. coarse grains and co-products being loaded onto ships for export.�
The Council had an eventful summer and fall in 2015, escorting approximately 30 trade teams to the United States. Hosting trade teams of international customers is one of the most important ways the Council accomplishes its mission of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives.
“Face-to-face meetings, actual farm visits, elevators visits and other activities these trade teams participate in help team members see a comprehensive overview of U.S. agricultural production,� said USGC Director in Japan Tommy Hamamoto. “Based on their experiences, team participants become comfortable with purchasing U.S. coarse grains.�
Please visit the Council’s Flickr page to see more photos of team travel this year within the United States: www.flickr.com/USGC.