U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff members from its Washington, D.C., headquarters and international offices came together with representatives from commodity checkoff organizations and Growth Energy for the Global Industry Partners Conference (GIPC) last week in Vienna, Austria. With more than 70 people in attendance, this was the first time this group has met together since 2019.
“It was great to get together with many of our partners and spend quality time discussing our priorities for the products we market overseas. These conversations spur new energy around our strategic goals and programs globally,” said USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand.
Attendees were welcomed by LeGrand who set the stage for the program by sharing information on the Council’s work and where the organization is headed.
In addition to a global market overview and receiving updates from commodity sector representatives, much of the conference was spent working on the Council’s strategic plan. With the plan being updated this year, it was important to discuss the priorities of each stakeholder group and how that plan should evolve over time.
Representatives from each of the Council’s international offices in attendance also shared updates on ethanol and feed grains programs, while trade policy and innovation and sustainability were also major topics of discussion.
“This conference is really intended to be a conversation and discussion around programs and priorities as we prepare to submit the UES, update our strategic plan, head into planting season and take on marketing challenges around the world,” said Ellen Zimmerman, USGC director of industry relations. “Our whole team, which includes our partners, is walking away with new energy around the Council’s mission, vision and direction.”
The GIPC is an opportunity for the Council to become more aligned with its state and national counterparts on the work the organization is doing to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives around the world. The Council looks forward to taking the input from each attendee and using it to generate strategic direction that represents all members of the organization.
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.