A delegation representing the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) and U.S. Identity Preserved, including Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) Chair Tom Frisch, helped make history in September in Nepal.

Not only did the team award a certificate to Shree Radne Rani International Trading, one of the first international companies to use the U.S. Identity Preserved brand mark on their retail packaging and marketing materials, SSGA also made inroads with other soy food manufacturers during retail market visits and at the U.S. Identity Preserved International Workshop.

Besides Frisch, who farms near Dumont, the delegation included SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick, and consultants Philip Shull and Rob Prather. The delegation visited several soy food manufacturers and retail markets where they saw U.S. identity preserved soybeans used in various soy snacks, such as fried and roasted snack mixes, soy nuts, tofu, soy flour and more.

Companies, including over four decade-old stores and shops, have given high praise to using identity preserved beans, reporting more consistent bean size, better taste and feel and high protein. Economic efficiencies have been another noted benefit, including a ready-to-make quality that eliminates extra cleaning and sorting.

“The people take great pride in using U.S. IP soybeans. All the stores we went to, if they had it, they sure were proud to show off the products,” said Frisch. “The owners expressed that their customers told them how much better U.S. soybeans were – better size, better flavor, better crunch. The amount of things they’re doing is unbelievable.”

SSGA capped its time in Nepal by hosting a U.S. Identity Preserved International Workshop, with U.S. Soybean Export Council as a partner, along with support from MSR&PC, Missouri Soybeans, the North Dakota Soybean Council and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. MSR&PC is also a supporter of SSGA’s U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand program.

The workshop featured more than 70 attendees, including Nepali soy food manufacturers, traders and related organizations, along with media/influencers.

Frisch spoke about his west-central Minnesota farm and farming practices, including his identity preserved soybeans during the workshop. Other speakers discussed the value of identity preserved crops and its potential in Nepal’s food and beverage sector. Soy food consultant Nishith Kumar led manufacturing demonstrations and sampling of soy foods made with the very first shipment of U.S. identity preserved soybeans that were delivered to Nepal in March. Dr. Suresh Itapu discussed value-added products from whole identity preserved soybeans and Sumit Agarwal of the Soy Food Processors Welfare Association highlighted the value of partnerships among soy food processors.

“I enjoyed being here listening to all the speakers talk about how much IP soybeans mean to them, from food safety and security to nutrition, growing U.S. IP soybeans is a little bit more time-consuming and labor intensive but it’s worth it to supply the world with a high-quality, high-protein product,” said Frisch. “It’s great to see firsthand the important work SSGA does throughout the world on behalf of Minnesota soybean farmers.”

SSGA and the U.S. Identity Preserved program will again be highlighted globally at the Identity Preserved International Summit Feb. 18-20, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The event will unite oilseed and grain buyers and food manufacturers, growers, processors and exporters for three days of discussion, networking and collaboration. Frisch was a speaker at the inaugural event in 2023, which included more than 50 foreign buyers as well as growers, processors and exporters of identity preserved field crops.