Photo credit: U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council.
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) recently hosted representatives from Japan’s corn food and feed industry on a tour of the U.S. corn value chain to provide an overview of U.S. corn production, distribution and export.
The delegation included relatively new feed grain buyers seeking information about the advantages of U.S. corn and opportunities to meet companies involved in production, quality testing and exports to Japan.
The group began its tour in Iowa, where it visited USGBC member ADM’s river terminal in Burlington to learn how U.S. agricultural products are transported for export. The delegation also toured two ethanol plants and a farm to learn about U.S. corn production and processing.
Iowa State University welcomed the group to its Kent Feed Mill, where participants observed how U.S. corn is incorporated into feed formulas to maximize nutritional content.
Before returning to Japan, the delegation visited a shipping logistics company and an export terminal in Washington to observe how U.S. agricultural products are transported to customers in Asia.
The tour also provided participants with an overview of quality and safety standards throughout the U.S. agricultural export chain. USGBC said the experience was intended to build customer understanding and trust in U.S.-origin products and strengthen the U.S.-Japan agricultural trade relationship.
Source: U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, "Council Leads Japanese Corn Importers On Tours In Iowa, Washington"