From Indiana to Indonesia: Indiana Soybean Alliance promotes Hoosier crops globally

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Soybean Alliance led a 10-person delegation to Indonesia in February to meet potential soybean buyers and tour facilities.

“We’ve brought in experts and participants from the farm gate all the way to the ports of Indonesia,” said Edward Ebert, senior director of market development at ISA.

“Between 2.4 and 2.5 million metric tons are sent to Indonesia each year. That’s about a quarter of our state’s production every year. That’s a significant number.”

Nick Stewart, owner and partner of S&G Seeds, said that imported soy is used to make tofu and tempeh.

“I think there’s an opportunity for us as Indiana farmers to offer them a higher-end product — higher protein content or high oleic content — things that enhance, change or improve the flavor or health profile of the food,” Stewart said.

“On the distribution side of things, I think we could benefit from doing the cleaning ourselves and sending them a higher quality product in general.”

Jim Douglas, a farmer from Flat Rock and United Soybean Board director, said that soy is a crucial part of life in Indonesia.

“They eat soy three meals a day here,” Douglas said. “The soybean industry is very important to them.

“One of the challenges is getting beans distributed to 17,000 islands. It’s amazing how it works. Most of the population is centered on a few islands, but you have to feed all those people.”

Indiana Corn Growers Association and ISA have identified demand for specialty products in Indonesia, Colombia, Thailand and Japan.

The market potential of shipping to these regions could be up to 11,600 containers of $165 million in product value between soybean and corn commodities and co-products annually.

In Indonesia, the soybean export value is estimated at $110 million and the corn starch export value is estimated at $12.3 million.

ISA and ICGA aim to expand the sales of specialty ag products exported in containers from Indiana to global markets through the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.

Through RAPP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $2.3 billion to help American producers maintain and develop markets for their commodities — including specialty crops.

Fast Facts

• Every dollar invested in export market development programs returns $24 in export revenue.

• Indiana is the seventh-largest agricultural exporter in the nation, exporting $7.4 billion in 2022.

• The market value of beef and pork exports fed by Indiana-produced corn added $241.21 million in 2022.

• Indiana corn had $1.3 billion and soybean had $2.6 billion to agricultural exports in 2021.

Source: Indiana Soybean Alliance