U.S. Soybean Association Successfully Concludes International Soybean Trade Expo 'Soy Connext'

- Successfully Concluded in Washington D.C. under the Theme "Where Bright Minds Connect"
- Over 700 Participants, Including Representatives from 21 Global Companies with U.S. Soy Sustainability Certification

From June 20 to 22 (U.S. local time), at the 'Soy Connext' held in Washington D.C., USA, (from left) Rosalyn Leek, Northeast Asia Director of the U.S. Soybean Association, Sanghoon Kim, CEO of Sajo Daerim, Jim Shutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Association, Yongchan Park, Division Head of Maeil Dairies, and Sungwoo Kim, Team Leader of Yonsei Dairy, are taking a commemorative photo.

The U.S. Soybean Association announced on August 26 that it held the international soybean trade expo, 'Soy Connext,' from August 20 to 22 (U.S. local time).

'Soy Connext,' held in Washington D.C., USA, concluded successfully under the theme "Where Bright Minds Connect," delivering the message that the power to illuminate a sustainable future for the planet comes together at this event. More than 700 participants from 59 countries around the world attended, and an awards ceremony was also held.

Sustainability first gained attention as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals presented by the United Nations (UN) in 2015, and has since emerged as a universal global objective. In particular, U.S. soybeans are regarded as a model for "sustainable food production and resilient agricultural principles," drawing increasing attention from companies worldwide. As a result, products that use sustainably produced U.S. soybeans and bear the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SUSS) certification logo are rapidly increasing across the globe, now being used in more than 1,172 products from 147 companies in 21 countries.

In Korea, companies such as Lotte Wellfood, Sajo Daerim, and Ourhome have joined the ranks of those adopting the certification logo. In particular, Sajo Daerim has attached the SUSS logo to its flagship fermented sauce and tofu products, resulting in a 26.9% increase in sales. The company is being recognized for successfully achieving both sales growth and establishing its image as a leading ESG company in Korea.

At this year's Soy Connext, Yonsei Dairy and Maeil Dairies, which have recently adopted the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol logo, also participated and declared their commitment to contributing to a brighter future for the planet. Yonsei Dairy, a nonprofit company, has recently launched healthy pleasure products such as low-sugar soy milk featuring the SUSS logo, which has elevated its brand value. Maeil Dairies has also attached the SUSS logo to its flagship sugar-free soy milk, signaling its intention to focus on producing sustainable products based on eco-friendly raw materials.