By increasing its presence in the competitive global market and adding value to Minnesota-grown soybeans, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) is pushing soy beyond the North Star State as a proud sponsor of the 2025 Identity Preserved International Summit (Summit) Feb. 18-20 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Kim Nill, MSR&PC director of market development, said the soy checkoff’s support of the second-annual IP Summit is helping deliver demand for Minnesota.
“The checkoff sponsors the IP Summit because Minnesota is the largest producer of identity preserved soybeans, with approximately 9% of Minnesota’s soybean acreage planted to IP soybeans each year,” Nill said. “Checkoff-funded breeding programs at University of Minnesota have created many of those food-destined IP soybean varieties, which tend to possess better taste, higher protein, the desired consistent light color and more.”
The Summit, presented by Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), is set to serve as an educational hub for food manufacturers; qualified grain and oilseed buyers and sellers; and transportation, equipment, seed and input companies from around the world. The event is expecting more than 40 foreign buyers and food manufacturers with attendees from South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal, Singapore and India registered.
Farmer leaders from across Minnesota are attending the Summit, including Vice Chair Gail Donkers, who represents MSR&PC on SSGA’s board.
“The Identity Preserved International Summit is such an important event that brings together key players in the industry that provide a platform for building global connections and finding ways to diversify and expand our soybean market at the global level,” Tom Frisch, MSR&PC chair, said.
Strategically scheduled at the peak of shipping season and beginning of the buying season for U.S. IP crops, the Identity Preserved International Summit agenda is jam-packed with new experiences for all attendees.
The agenda will tackle topics including food and crop trends and availability, seed and variety issues, processing and manufacturing equipment, market barriers, insights from growers and more. The Council’s sponsorship of the Summit is helping showcase the high-quality practices of Minnesota soybean farmers.
“Because the Summit meetings cause Asian food manufacturers to realize they can make more profit by manufacturing premium-quality soyfoods by switching from commodity soybeans to IP soybeans, this results in greater overseas demand for MN-origin IP soybeans, which command a price premium over commodity soybeans,” Nill said.
For a look at the full Identity Preserved International Summit agenda, click here.