Thirteen Minnesota soybean farmers are traveling to Vietnam on a trade mission this week, to build both relationships and potential markets for their crops. Tom Slunecka, CEO of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, said that Vietnam is an up-and-coming market for the U.S., with 6 percent annual growth in its economy projected this year. The country is fourth in global pork production and third in aquaculture, he said, both of which require a healthy, safe diet that includes soybean meal. Food-grade soybeans are also in demand for tofu, soy milk and other products, he said, which make up an important part of the average Vietnamese diet.
The delegation will visit Vietnamese ports where U.S. soybeans arrive, Slunecka said, and follow how they are transported to crushing facilities and animal feed mills. The Minnesotans will also visit animal production and aquaculture growth and processing operations, and will taste the finished food products and see how they are marketed in groceries. Slunecka said that trade missions are especially important in places like Vietnam, where personal relationships are an important part of doing business. "They want to look you in the eye and see photos of your farm and family," he said.
