The ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health led a 13-person U.S. Grower Leader trade delegation to Cambodia this week to review the successes of its CAST-Cambodia project, meet with partners in the country, and share its learnings of the aquaculture and food sectors. The WISHH team began the trade mission with a market briefing of the current overlay of Cambodia’s aquaculture industry including its growing demand of U.S. soy for fish feed. CAST is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded Food for Progress project that accelerates production of high-demand fish species for the Cambodian market and develops a lasting aquaculture industry.
WISHH committee members Morey Hill (IA), Chad Warner (OH), Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare (IL), Heather Feuerstein (MI) joined United Soybean Board directors Dawn Scheier (SD) and Gene Stoel (MN) on this month’s trade mission. Later in the day, the WISHH representatives met with the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization to share outcomes from 7 years of the CAST project and its learnings of the future of aquaculture in the country. FAO, which plans to increase its investment of the industry in this country, is gaining knowledge from WISHH’s work in Cambodia. WISHH shared how it worked with partners to educate farmers on fish safety, yield, storage, and even helped introduce new products to the Cambodian market.
WISHH’s trade mission to Cambodia will continue with tours to both human food and feed operations that procure U.S. soy. WISHH leveraged support from the United Soybean Board with USDA Emerging Market Program funds for its trade team trip.