As the world faces its largest food crisis in modern history, leaders around the world are looking for solutions. U.S. soybean growers think they have a lot to offer to global entrepreneurs and small-scale farmers who are looking to build their businesses using soy protein. 

A record 345 million people across 82 countries are facing acute food insecurity  – up from 282 million at the end of last year – according to the World Food Programme. Up to 50 million people in 45 countries are right on the edge of famine and risk being tipped over without support, according to WFP. 

Addressing global food insecurity is “a daunting challenge, but one that is ultimately solvable with the right people, strong governance, regulatory systems, technology and market development assistance,” says Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant. “I’ve seen firsthand how small farmers can adapt to new tools and systems and lift themselves out of poverty to a more food secure environment.” 

During the upcoming Oct. 13 Agri-Pulse webinar, “Growing new soy protein markets for global food security,” you’ll have a chance to see how U.S. soybean growers are helping business partners overseas develop new markets for aquaculture, poultry, livestock and human nutrition – making themselves both environmentally and economically sustainable. 

The free webinar at noon central time is sponsored by the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the United Soybean Board (USB). Speakers will explore how a commitment to global food security is a win-win for both customers and soybean farmers who are committed to building new markets for U.S. soy. You can sign up by clicking on this link.

Speakers include:

Mac Marshall serves as the vice president of market intelligence for the United Soybean Board (USB). In this capacity, Marshall works with USB leadership to evaluate and establish long-term strategic initiatives in support of advancing domestic and international market opportunities for the U.S. soybean industry while serving as an industry source of market information and analysis. Prior to joining USB, he served as global market analysis and trade lead at Bayer Crop Science, where he worked on international market access issues as part of a global agricultural policy team. Marshall has also held roles in Monsanto’s Corporate Strategy group and within the federal government as both a staff and supervisory economist at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. He holds a B.A. in economics from Vassar College and an M.A. in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Gena Perry was tapped by ASA/WISHH to lead WISHH as its executive director earlier this year. She stepped up to the top staff post after serving as WISHH’s project director of global strategy. Perry joined WISHH in 2019 as project director of WISHH’s USDA-funded Food for Progress poultry project in Ghana. Before joining WISHH, she lived and worked in West Africa as liaison for AgriCorps and 4-H Ghana then took on the role of AgriCorps chief of staff based in Texas. Perry received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agribusiness from the University of Georgia where she also conducted research on management tools for livestock producers and aquaponics. 

Morey Hill is a fourth-generation farmer on his family’s 161 hectares of land near Perry, Iowa, where they grow soybeans and corn. Hill serves as a director on the American Soybean Association Board as well as serves as Vice Chair on the WISHH Program Committee. He and his wife, Rhonda, also have 15-20 head of sheep as well as a flock of 40-50 laying hens. Hill graduated from Iowa State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies. He began farming part-time when he returned home from the Army in 1975 and made it his full-time job in 2005.

Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant will serve as moderator for the event on Oct. 13 at noon CT. Registration for the webinar is free. You can sign up by clicking on this link.