U.S. Soybean Farmer-Leaders Sign Global Agreement with Uruguay
Growers working together can help overcome common challenges.
Compiled by staff
Published: Oct 2, 2009
Illinois soybean farmer Sharon Covert, a member of the United Soybean Board panel that works to grow U.S. soy exports, recently returned from meetings with soybean farmers in the South American nation of Uruguay.
"My purpose for going to Uruguay was to sign along with the Uruguayans the Global Growers Development Agreement," Covert said.
While soybean farmers in Uruguay do compete with U.S. soybean farmers, Covert says the Global Growers Development Agreement provides a framework so the two sides can work on common challenges together.
"There are many issues that we could work on together and I think we can grow the soybean market around the world by working together on those issues," Covert said. "Those issues include sustainability issues that we all face and that we could work on, and then there is always trade barriers around the world and all soybean producers working together could help with that problem."
The trip was a joint effort by the United Soybean Board's Global Opportunities Program and its Production Research Program. Covert and two other U.S. soybean farmer-leaders signed a document that ratified Uruguay's Soy Production Organization to join the International Soybean Growers Alliance.
The U.S. soybean farmer team also visited Chile working to enhance opportunities for the use of U.S. soybean meal in Chile's aquaculture industry.
To find out more about soybean checkoff-funded efforts visit the official checkoff Web site at www.unitedsoybean.org.
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Tagged: soybean, checkoff, United Soybean Board, sustainability, soybean checkoff
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