The ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health Program Executive Director Gena Perry joined agricultural leaders from across the country at the 2026 ACE Summit, where she participated in a panel discussion on building trade through strategic partnerships. The sold-out event, which also included U.S. Dairy Export Council Chairwoman Becky Nyman, was organized by the American Farm Bureau Federation as part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The panelists discussed how capacity-building initiatives create win-win outcomes, supporting economic growth in emerging markets while generating future demand for U.S. agricultural imports.
Perry emphasized that U.S. farmers invest in capacity-building programs because they create future trade opportunities. She further explained that developing knowledge and expertise in emerging markets is a pathway to expanding demand for U.S. agricultural exports.
Using WISHH’s Training Program for Young Professionals (TPYP) in Ghana and Nigeria as an example, Perry highlighted how the program equips the next generation of aquaculture professionals with practical skills while strengthening feed industries that rely on U.S. soy.
“By investing in this type of program today WISHH helps creates a stronger value chain for professionals that will become future long-term trading partners for U.S. farmers,” Perry explained. “This creates a win-win for U.S. soybean growers and meets protein in places such as Ghana and Nigeria.”