NCI Hosts IP/Food Grade Soybean Procurement Course | June 17-21, 2024
Participants viewing soy foods products demonstrations in NCI’s labs
The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) hosted its IP/Food Grade Soybean Procurement course on June 17-21, 2024. This course contained lectures on cash and futures markets, utilizing identity preserved/food grade soybeans, understanding pricing and shipping options, and more. This course was conducted in-person at the NCI in Fargo, North Dakota with 20 participants from the United States, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The first day included welcomes from the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), and World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH). Participants spent the day in lectures learning about the futures markets and testing soybean varieties for soy foods before viewing demonstrations on soymilk, tofu, and sensory evaluation for soy food products in NCI’s labs.
Participants listening to a presentation by SSGA
The second day started with visiting a local grocery store to learn about soy products in the market, and then back to back lectures on strategy and futures markets. Participants spent the afternoon touring SB&B Foods, Identity Ag Processing, and a local soybean field.
The third day spent the morning at NCI listening to presentations on food grade soybeans. The afternoon was spent visiting Brushvale Seed, and ended the day with discussion and Q&A with food grade soybean producers.
The fourth day was spent at NCI listening to various presentations and lectures. The morning session included topics such as contracts, pricing, shipping, and payments as well as transportation through container freights and operations of a soy food plant. The afternoon kicked off with a presentation on the economic advantage to utilizing IP/food grade soybeans, and then back-to-back short sessions from different food grade soybean suppliers. The afternoon concluded with a presentation from the North Dakota Trade Office.
Participants viewing soy foods products demonstrations in NCI’s labs
The fifth and final day started the morning with presentations on US soy, an intro to the specialty US soy database, soybean harvesting and cleaning. The final presentation focused on teaching participants about independent marketing and utilizing risk management consultants. The course finished with the awarding of certificates and concluded right after.
This group contained a variety of international soybean purchasing managers, directors, and R&D staff associated with soybean, food, and export companies. This program was made possible by the support of the North Dakota Soybean Council and the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA).
To view and register for NCI’s upcoming courses, visit northern-crops.com/courses.