Photo credit: U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council.
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council hosted a trade mission last month for 18 buyers and executives from Central American feed producers and end-users, bringing the delegation to Kentucky to learn more about the U.S. corn crop and the production and use of grain co-products, particularly distillers dried grains with solubles.
The initiative was designed to retain and increase purchases of U.S. feed grains in the region, with a particular focus on Guatemala. The country currently imports more than 1 million metric tons of corn and represents a growing market for U.S. DDGS.
The week-long program included visits to farms during corn harvest, where participants observed production technology and quality analysis procedures and learned more about the maritime feed grain export chain.
The delegation also visited an ethanol plant to observe the production and use of co-products such as DDGS. Discussions about production capacity and supply provided participants with a better understanding of product availability and the connection between U.S. ethanol production and the feed ingredient supply chain.
The program also emphasized the U.S. agricultural industry's position as a reliable supplier of corn and co-products while demonstrating the systems used to monitor grain quality and condition throughout the supply chain.
The Central American animal feed industry has experienced growth, particularly in the poultry sector. Increased inclusion of U.S. DDGS has supported that expansion by providing a cost-effective source of protein, according to USGBC.
The council said the trade mission was intended to educate customers about the nutritional benefits of U.S. feed ingredients while demonstrating their economic and efficiency advantages to encourage greater adoption.
Source: U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, "USGBC Hosts Delegation Of Central American Purchasers In Kentucky"