In April 2025, Bengaluru, India, became the heart of a quiet but powerful shift in India’s protein and feed industry. The Soy Excellence Center (SEC) India Annual Meeting brought together the U.S. Soy farmers serving on the SEC Global Advisory Panel, the Regional Advisory Council Members, staff, partners, and, perhaps most importantly, the next generation of Pathfinders. From deep strategic conversations to bold new voices, the gathering underscored how far SEC India has come in just one year and where it is ambitiously headed.

In Conversation with GAP Members in India

Members of the SEC Global Advisory Panel (GAP), Mark Read, Anne Meis, and David Williams, shared insights that were both informative and moving. As Kevin Roepke, USSEC’s Regional Director, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, guided the panel session with our SEC GAP members, the conversation moved beyond theory to the real-world implications of the SEC’s mission.

Mark Read emphasized that the SEC’s role is not just training; it’s trust-building. “The value of U.S. Soy resonates when it drives real growth in local protein value chains,” he said, reflecting the essence of the SEC strategy for India.

Anne Meis struck a similar chord, reminding the RAC that the SEC will observe success in engagement metrics in the short term and that long-term success hinges on transforming the market. She stressed the risk of expanding too fast and losing depth, a crucial reminder to build for impact, not just scale.

David Williams brought focus to financial sustainability. “Partnerships are key,” he noted. “When local stakeholders see value, they invest in the system. That’s how we build something that lasts.”

RAC Listening Session: Insightful and Grounded

The RAC members delivered a thoughtful blend of ground reality and strategic foresight. Among the many insightful voices, two key themes stood out.

1. Focus on Retention Through Relevance and Structure

Several RAC members, Dr. Itapu, Executive Director for the Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association; Mr. Pasuparthy, President of Karnataka Poultry Farmers & Breeders Association, and Mr. Kanagaraj, Consultant; focused on increasing retention for the program in India. They offered solutions, including better alignment with industry work hours, targeted incentives, and refreshing modules to reflect the ever-changing real-life applications.

2. Strengthen Collaborations to Scale Impact

What stood out powerfully this year was the willingness of SEC India RAC members to deepen their commitment through tangible partnerships. Mr. Agarwal, President of the All India Soy Foods Promotion & Welfare Association, recognized the untapped potential of the soy foods sector and generously offered his Bhopal-based facility to support future in-person training programs. Similarly, Mr. Thaper, Treasurer of the Poultry Federation of India, shared that the federation is open to formal association with SEC India, an encouraging signal that industry bodies are ready to align with the SEC’s long-term vision.

The Women Leading the Way: A Session That Moved More Than Minds

From left to right: Ms. Meghal Singh, Ms. Ashnni Rai, Ms. Anu Nallappa, Ms. Malavika Siddharth, Ms. Nandini Rukmangadhan and Ms. Gaura Dubey.

Perhaps the most groundbreaking moment of the meeting was the panel titled “Innovate and Lead: Women Pioneering Change in the Protein Value Chain.” This wasn’t just a session; the panel was a statement and a signal of SEC India’s focus on women.

The session featured dynamic entrepreneurs like Ms. Malavika Siddharth (Nutritionist & Co-founder, Hello Tempayy), Ms. Meghal Singh (Founder & Managing Director, Mommy’s Chicken), and Ms. Nandini Rukmangadhan (Joint Managing Director in the making, Surabhi Breeding Farms), who shared not only their business journeys but also their support of structured workforce development.

A theme that resonated strongly across the session was the essential need for protein to become a more common part of Indian diets. Ms. Siddharth emphasized the importance of protein awareness across schools, hospitals, and even the medical community. Ms. Singh shared how digital storytelling can boost consumer awareness and drive sustainable growth.

Further, each story was deeply personal while also professional. Ms. Singh spoke about bootstrapping her business from her home kitchen, while Ms. Gaura Dube (Director, Phoenix Group) addressed the resistance to change in legacy systems. Their shared themes? Skilling is central, not supplementary to success.

The impact was immediate. After the session, one of the women reached out not just to thank the organizers but to act with intent. Her company’s Chief HR Officer contacted the SEC India team the very next day, seeking help enrolling employees in the SEC India offerings. That one email spoke louder than applause. It was change, unfolding in real time.

Looking Forward, Led by “Tomorrow Solvers”

The 2025 SEC India RAC Meeting wasn’t just a checkpoint. It was a launchpad. It demonstrated the strength of intentional community building, the wisdom of cross-generational learning, and the unstoppable drive of emerging women leaders in a traditionally male-dominated space.

In the words of one panelist, “The future is not something we step into. It’s something we build—skill by skill, story by story.” That spirit was alive in every session, conversation, and commitment made in Bengaluru this April.

For those of us invested in the future of food security and inclusive growth, one thing became abundantly clear: tomorrow has already begun.