Checkoff Check-in

Every soybean farmer contributes to the checkoff at the first point of purchase, paying half of one-percent of the price per bushel. Here is what your soybean checkoff has been doing for you.

Bob Haselwood, Kansas Soybean Commissioner and treasurer for the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, traveled to Cambodia in June with other U.S. soybean leaders.

Cambodia imports much of its fish for human consumption from Vietnam. To become more sustainable and self-sufficient, Cambodians in the aquaculture industry are working toward farming their own fish with the support of the Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade project, funded by the checkoff and USDA.

Haselwood says he observed on the trip how the Cambodian aquaculture industry has grown and how soy has improved their commercial fish feed since his last trip in 2020. In-pond raceway systems, which use technology with continuous water flow to culture fish at higher densities, have been improved to overcome production limitations. Solar dome drying systems, similar to greenhouses, have been implemented to improve food safety practices when preserving fish.

Aquaculture is new to the soy industry compared to poultry, swine, or cattle, and aquaculture diets vary depending on the species. However, soy in aquaculture feed has contributed to a safe and sustainable supply of protein. U.S. soybean leaders in Cambodia also learned about the role soy plays in aquaculture by visiting an expansion of AgriMaster’s livestock feed facility and fish feed manufacturing.

Cambodians are seeing the benefit of the CAST program in their communities involved with the aquaculture industry. A Cambodian Aquaculturist Association started by CAST has grown from a few members in 2020 to 550 members in June. The growth of this association will be important for the continued development of Cambodian aquaculture once the CAST program ends.

Haselwood says he was excited to see the progress that Cambodian aquaculture has made and how the involvement of WISHH has been beneficial. WISHH and their work to introduce soy to Cambodia has helped raise their economy, improving the lives of citizens. As the checkoff invests in WISHH, more value is added to programs like CAST, aiding in the integration of soy to international markets.

Find more Kansas Soybean Commission content in the August 2022 Soy Notes newsletter.