Consumers drive the marketplace. That is something that you are all aware of, and do not need the reminder. However, as we have gone through the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen that the consumers’ trust in the American farmer has grown. When there was a food chain supply disruption early in the pandemic, people stopped worrying about buzzwords and just asked questions about how food is produced and why the supply chain was experiencing problems. Farmers and Ag organizations seized upon the opportunity to share the story of average American operations. The United Soybean Board (USB) has also taken their advocacy a step further by helping introduce a Sustainably Grown U.S. Soy mark.
Audio: Full interview with Belinda Burrier of the United Soybean Board
USB grower-leader Belinda Burrier talks about the decision of the United Soybean Board to work with companies like Soylent and DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences on the sustainable mark.
Burrier says that to qualify to carry the mark, growers have to strictly follow United States Department of Agriculture guidelines on the sustainable growth of soybeans. This includes soil and water quality practices.
Burrier says that farmers are getting much better at getting out and telling their stories. This has been a large hurdle for the industry for many years. This is why we are also seeing an uptick in consumer confidence. Consumers are seeing how much family farms are doing to be sustainable in their practices.
You can learn more about the work being done by the United Soybean Board on their website.
