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Advancing food security through trade

Food security is a priority for every nation. Some favored food-surplus nations, like the United States, have the luxury of taking it for granted. For others, however, the margin is narrower and for some, famine is still a living memory. For all countries, rich and poor, international trade is an available and powerful tool for enhancing food security, reducing food costs and providing consumer choice. The Council works continuously to build understanding of and confidence in this trade-based food safety net.

Japan has long been an outstanding example of how a country can achieve food security through trade, but other countries as well are now opening to expanded trade. A key recent example is China.

In recent years a net corn exporter, China created headlines in 2010 as it reentered the market as a major purchaser of U.S. corn. Yet corn is not the lone product: China has emerged as the United States’ number one global market for agricultural products across all sectors. It is also the third-largest export destination for all U.S. merchandise globally, behind only Mexico and Canada.

Council-built relationships within China have helped make this a reality, and in 2011 this relationship-building continued. The 2011 Corn Mission was one of several missions that included meetings with customers and industry representatives in China. For its part, a high-level delegation from China came to the United States to learn more about the U.S. production and marketing system, including transportation efficiencies, production trends, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and risk management options. With assistance from the

Council, these senior-level regulatory, university, livestock industry and feed organization representatives received a thorough background through meetings with U.S. officials in Washington and ethanol companies in the Midwest.

The Council also coordinated the industry response to the Chinese anti-dumping case on U.S. DDGS and has engaged at high levels in an ongoing strategic discussion of biotech issues.

Global promotion of DDGS and corn gluten is another example of building relationships and promoting food security through trade. Feeding trials, seminars and other promotions in Canada, Egypt, Jordon, Colombia, Peru, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and elsewhere are included on the Council’s online annual report and helped make 2011 the most successful year yet for U.S. DDGS exports. Thanks to Council initiatives, foreign buyers more fully understand how U.S. DDGS and corn gluten can be a reliable component of their food security strategies.

Through efforts on all U.S. grain and co-products, the Council’s message is clear: Trade helps feed the world and that means improved global stability, reduced food costs and global economic growth. All of these are critical as the global population expands, the middle class grows and demand for protein soars.