The World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) held a week-long INTSOY (International Soy Processing) course organized by the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) with sponsorship from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC).

There were 22 participants from eight international countries – Ghana, Indonesia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Myanmar, Cambodia, Mexico and Taiwan. It was one of the first international soy trade teams to tour facilities in the northwest Minnesota.

North Dakota Soybean and South Dakota Soybean were also sponsors.

“I think it was a fantastic experience for all involved,” says Kim Nill, Minnesota Soybean’s director of market development.

The group arrived on Sunday, and attended a reception in Minneapolis, where MSR&PC chairman Keith Schrader addressed the crowd. They later toured a Buler factory, where grain processing equipment is produced.

Later on Monday, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) Director Jamie Beyer, organized a farm tour near Wheaton, Minn. Minnesota Soybean CEO Tom Slunecka also spoke during the farm tour.

“I think it was interesting for them as it was for us,” Beyer says. “Some of them couldn’t believe how quiet it is up here in northern Minnesota, and how vast the farmland is.”

After the Minnesota portion, the tour traveled to Brookings, S.D.