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USDA hosts historic trade mission to Africa

USDA is hosting an historic trade mission to Africa.

Minnesota Soybean Growers Association executive director Joe Smentek is on the trip and says the first stop was Morrocco.

“In Casablanca, talking to folks there. And the USDA set that trip up, so we had what as their largest delegation to Africa ever.”

Representatives from nearly 50 U.S. agribusinesses and trade groups and 14 state departments of agriculture are participating.

Speaking to Brownfield from Egypt Monday, he said the U.S. Soy Export Council is making a lot of progress.

“They’ve had a Soy Excellence Center here in Cairo for five years now, and we’ve been talking with a lot of different importers, buyers, aqua feed mills, animal feed mills, and there is a huge preference for U.S. soy.”

Smentek says feed mills in North Africa are willing to pay a premium because of the quality of the product and the relationships.