Last week, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff met with key partners and customers in China to discuss the eco-friendly benefits of U.S. corn and how the Council’s Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol (CSAP) assists importers in verifying product quality. This visit comes as the Chinese government introduces corporate sustainability disclosure guidelines, set to take effect in 2027, developed in line with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
“The Chinese market is signaling it’s looking to align with international sustainability standards, and this creates an opportunity thanks to U.S. corn growers’ long tradition of conservation and environmental stewardship,” said Manuel Sanchez, USGC director in China. “This was the perfect time to introduce the CSAP to the Chinese market and leverage the great work U.S. farmers are already doing to enhance U.S. agriculture’s market share here.”
Sanchez was joined by USGC Director of Global Sustainability Carlos Suárez, who oversees the CSAP, and USGC Sustainable Corn Exports Chairman and Iowa corn farmer Roger Zylstra. Their agenda began with a meeting with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) representatives at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai to discuss new promotional strategies and opportunities for the U.S. industry following China’s recent policy changes.
The delegation toured several port facilities and met with a multinational food processing company and an agricultural market analysis firm to understand how China’s national sustainability initiative will affect domestic companies and their raw material imports. They also participated in the 15th China International Cereals and Oils Industry Summit on July 11, where Sanchez and Suárez spoke on a panel about global feed grain supply outlooks. Suárez presented on the CSAP, highlighting its benefits for both buyers and sellers by detailing the regulations, processes, and management practices involved in U.S. corn production.
The group attended the Second China Feed Breeding Industry Conference the following day to build business relationships with local producers and gather information about trends in the Chinese pork and poultry industries.
“The sustainability standards that China adopts will have immense ripple effects in the global economy, and the U.S. industry needs to be ready for international importers’ needs to shift and establish new avenues of engagement in foreign markets,” Suárez said.
This engagement with Chinese partners underscores the importance of sustainability in the global agricultural supply chain and highlights the proactive steps taken by U.S. corn producers to meet international standards, ensuring continued market growth and environmental stewardship.
