By Jamie Martin
Jakarta, Indonesia, welcomed more than 400 agricultural leaders and stakeholders from over 20 countries for the Southeast Asia U.S. Agricultural Cooperators Conference (ACC). Co-organized by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the conference highlighted opportunities to grow trade, secure supply chains, and improve food security.
For over twenty years, ACC has served as an important forum for U.S. exporters to connect with international buyers. Caleb Wurth, USGBC’s regional director for Southeast Asia & Oceania, noted that the event now extends beyond Southeast Asia, with South Korean and Taiwanese groups also participating.
Speakers included USGBC President Ryan LeGrand, Vice Chairman Jay Reiners, Ohio Corn Checkoff Chair Patty Mann, USSEC Chair Janna Fritz, and CEO Jim Sutter. They shared insights on international trade, global markets, and future directions for agriculture.
Sessions examined freight logistics, grain quality standards, and regional trade dynamics, with contributions from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Rising demand for protein, along with buyers’ emphasis on safety, traceability, and product quality, were identified as top priorities in Southeast Asia.
The second day explored global food systems and geopolitics, followed by farm visits to show how U.S. grains are applied in dairy and aquaculture feed. In addition, B2B meetings gave exporters and international agribusinesses the chance to strengthen future relationships.
“There are many rapidly expanding economies in the region, and the Council and its partners have been laying the groundwork for years to establish a foothold for the U.S. agricultural industry here,” Wurth said. "The continued success of ACC is a sign of customers’ recognition of the quality of U.S. products and their desire to trade, and we look forward to many more iterations to come.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotografixx
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