GMW: U.S. needs to pay attention to customers, soy industry expert warns

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GMW: U.S. needs to pay attention to customers, soy industry

expert warns

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 30 Aug 2005 23:21:28 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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All around the world farmers are being told by pro-GM lobbyists that if

they don't hurry up and get into GMOs, they'll be at a serious

competitive disadvantage.

 

The reality, as the US soy industry expert quoted below makes clear, is

the exact reverse.

 

EXCERPTS: The United States needs to start listening to its customers

if it wants to remain a player in the soybean export market, a soyfoods

industry expert said...

 

Peter Golbitz, president of Soyatech of Bar Harbor, Maine, said the

demand for soybeans is increasing around the world, but the United

States'

share of that market is decreasing because U.S. farmers aren't growing

what the world's consumers want.

 

If any more GMO soybeans are grown, the United States will be out of

the food-grade market, Golbitz said, and may have to import to meet U.S.

consumer demand.

 

The dropping U.S. marketshare shows that the nation hasn't been paying

attention to its customers' needs...

 

The United States must consider producers' futures above those of

multi-national agribusinesses.

 

" I don't think the American farmers' interests are being looked out

for, " he said.

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U.S. needs to pay attention to customers

By Janet Kubat Willette

Agri News staff writer

Agri News, August 30, 2005

http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/314038581012717.bsp

 

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The United States needs to start listening to its

customers if it wants to remain a player in the soybean export market,

a soyfoods industry expert said at last week's Midwest Specialty Grains

Conference.

 

Peter Golbitz, president of Soyatech of Bar Harbor, Maine, said the

demand for soybeans is increasing around the world, but the United

States'

share of that market is decreasing because U.S. farmers aren't growing

what the world's consumers want. Other countries are filling the need

with a quality product at a cheaper price.

 

If the U.S. soybean industry wants to be a player, Golbitz said, it

needs to invest in food-grade soybeans and adjust its attitude. The

United

States can no longer be the bully that tells other nations what they

have to buy, but instead it must compete with other regions, particularly

South America, to deliver the highest quality product at the lowest

possible cost with transparency throughout the system.

 

" There's really no excuse in today's market not to give the consumer

what he wants, " Golbitz said.

 

World soybean production has skyrocketed by more than 500 percent in

the last 40 years, he said, making soybeans the world's largest protein

and oil crop.

 

The crop changed dramatically in 1996 when U.S. farmers began planting

Roundup Ready beans. Now, 86 percent of U.S. soybeans are genetically

modified. Eight to 9 percent are food-grade soybeans and 5 percent to 6

percent are feed and seed.

 

If any more GMO soybeans are grown, the United States will be out of

the food-grade market, Golbitz said, and may have to import to meet U.S.

consumer demand.

 

The potential world market for specialty soybeans is estimated at 13.4

million metric tons for 2005, worth $3 billion to $3.5 billion. The

U.S. share of this market is expected to be about $1.6 billion, 10

percent

of the value of the nation's soybean crop.

 

Asia is the largest and most significant market for food-grade

soybeans, Golbitz said.

 

The dropping U.S. marketshare shows that the nation hasn't been paying

attention to its customers' needs and isn't seeing export customers as

buyers with specific needs and concerns.

 

He challenged the conference attendees to lead the nation in becoming a

leader in the development of identity-preserved and specialty grain.

The United States must consider producers' futures above those of

multi-national agribusinesses.

 

" I don't think the American farmers' interests are being looked out

for, " he said.

 

The nation also needs to modernize its storage and grain terminals and

expand railroad transportation.

 

 

 

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