Commissioners interact with int’l WISHH projects

Kansas soybean continues to visit international buyers of soybean meal and explore the aquaculture industry

Building preference for U.S. Soy in international markets is a key objective of the soybean checkoff. Some of that work takes place through the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health. Kansas Soybean Commission Chairman Bob Haselwood, who represents KSC as treasurer on the WISHH board, traveled to Cambodia in June with the organization.

WISHH is currently co-operating a five-year Comercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade project in Cambodia to boost the country’s ability to provide quality fish for its own population and reduce reliance on fish imports. While U.S. soybean meal as fish food creates a higher cost upfront than the typical Cambodian rice bran and fish waste mixture, Haselwood says aquaculture producers are recognizing that quality feed creates a better return-on-investment in the final fish product.

“From the soy industry perspective, we are always looking for more ways to move soy,” Haselwood says. “Aquaculture is not new as an industry, but it is newer to soy industry compared to other livestock. There’s a lot to learn on how to feed the fish because every species of fish is different in their nutritional needs. Soy works as protein source in feed rations for many species.”

Haselwood previously traveled to Cambodia in 2020 with WISHH. He says the group returned to many of the same locations on the recent trip and were able to observed improvements to infrastructure and processes made possible by the CAST project.

“It is amazing to see the amount that’s been done in a short time and see the excitement of producers there with how grateful they are to get their programs running,” Haselwood shares. “Advancing the industry impacts the economy and leads to increased soy demand. WISHH helps provide protein from a variety of sources to raise the economy internationally.”

While Haselwood was across the world observing Cambodian aquaculture, Commissioner Lance Rezac hosted a WISHH trade team at his farm. Participants from Cambodia, Ghana and Nigeria kicked off their trip at Rezac’s farm before attending a weeklong feed manufacturing course at the International Grains Program Institute in Manhattan.

The visit allowed participants to learn more about the benefits of U.S. soy for animal feed, and many were able to see U.S. – farmed soy – beans up close for the first time.