USSEC’s commitment to supporting industry in emerging markets through technical training was on full display recently in Honduras, as 27 students from nine countries participated in the inaugural in-person Soy Excellence Center program in the Americas region.

Soy Excellence Centers (SECs), a program created and administered by USSEC, provide world-class workforce training and capacity building within the soy value chain to enable local visions for health, nutrition, and environmental sustainability in collaboration with diverse food and agriculture stakeholders. Globally, USSEC has established SECs in four regions, including the Americas, Nigeria, Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa.

This recent cohort in Honduras completed instruction in poultry nutrition and feed manufacturing. The training took place at Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural University, widely regarded as the premier agricultural university in the region. SEC Americas partners with Zamorano to facilitate the courses and expand its footprint in the region.

“I highly recommend training through the Soy Excellence Center,” said Danilo Llamuca Carrera, a member of the cohort and an employee at Bioalimentar, an animal food producer based in Ecuador. “It is important for us to constantly update our learning as new technologies come out. Also, participating with people from different countries allows us to learn from their experiences, and it’s mutually beneficial to build a community amongst our peers.”

Completion of the training courses not only allows the trainees to pursue additional coursework through the program, but also makes them eligible to join the SEC Digital Community. Through the community, participants will have access to on-demand training, industry experts, and global networking opportunities.

The Americas region is the largest market for U.S. Soy outside of China. More importantly, it is a region where U.S. soybeans hold the highest market share. The continued growth of SEC Americas programming will help to maintain and expand this market position through building up industry leaders of tomorrow.

The Soy Excellence Centers are primarily funded by partnering Qualified State Soybean Boards and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, with support from U.S. soybean farmers, their checkoff the United Soybean Board and the soy value chain.