In mid-August in Washington, D.C., the focus was on soybeans, a modest crop with a major impact on global food security. At Soy Connext 2025, an event organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council, over 700 participants from 59 countries gathered to discuss how soy can help feed a growing world.
Trade teams from 34 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, toured American farms and ports, witnessing firsthand the innovation and reliability that make U.S. soy a trusted source. U.S. soybeans provide a dependable and sustainable source of food and energy globally.
The scale of the soybean industry is immense. In 2024, U.S. soy contributed $31.2 billion to the American economy and was exported to more than 80 countries. Demand continues to grow, with global soybean use projected to reach 346 million metric tons this year, highlighting soy’s central role in the worldwide poultry, dairy, and aquaculture industries.
A delegation from Pakistan, representing the All-Pakistan Solvent Extractors’ Association, attended Soy Connext 2025. The delegation met with U.S. soybean farmers and suppliers. A key topic in these discussions was the strong trade relationship between Pakistan and the U.S., with U.S. soy providing a consistent, high-quality, and affordable protein source for millions of families across the country.
Soybean meal, a byproduct of the bean, is a primary ingredient in poultry feed. Poultry accounts for nearly half of the meat consumed in Pakistan and is the most accessible and affordable source of protein for households. With a population of over 250 million, more than 60 percent of whom are young people, and a rising demand for nutritious and affordable food, these imports will play a vital role in strengthening food security and supporting healthier futures.
On the sidelines of the event, Pakistan’s Dr. Rai M. Sajid from the Jadeed Group received the STAR Award from the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s Soy Excellence Center (SEC) program. The SEC is a capacity-building initiative that trains the next generation of protein professionals in its aquaculture, poultry, and feed milling learning tracks in emerging markets like Pakistan.
Soy Connext demonstrates that when global partners collaborate, the benefits are widely shared. For Pakistan, this partnership is not just about soybeans; it’s about investing in people, empowering industries, and unlocking the potential of a young nation ready to grow strong. The U.S. Soybean Export Council’s Soy Connext provides a platform for global partners to work together to create a more nutritious, protein-enabled, and food-secure world.
