WISHH Helps Catch New Fish & Poultry Feed Markets for Soybean Meal

The poultry industry in much of sub-Saharan Africa is restricted in its ability to grow due to high feed costs, and poor farm management practices. WISHH’s USDA funded-project found that the country of Ghana’s national yearly per capita consumption increased to 235 in 2020. As a comparison, U.S. annual per-person consumption of eggs and egg products was 293 in 2019, according to USDA.

South Dakota soybean growers are helping African fish and chickens get a taste for quality feeds made with soybean meal.

“Exploring and expanding diverse new markets is an important step to create demand for South Dakota soybeans,” says Dawn Scheier who serves on the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health Program Committee (ASA/WISHH). “Aquaculture is just one of those new feed markets that WISHH is developing in Asia as well as Africa.”

Yet, there are no easy shortcuts to trailblaze trade, especially in developing and emerging economies. Market diversification, including partnerships with African food and feed entrepreneurs, is more important than ever so WISHH is hard at work in developing countries.

Visionary soybean growers founded WISHH 20 years ago when they recognized that fast-growing populations and economies in Africa would require more protein.

Aquaculture and poultry feeds are a top priority for WISHH’s 2021 focus in West Africa. In aquaculture, WISHH is leading a feasibility study of a new fish feed mill to supply several of the French-speaking countries in West Africa. The aquaculture industry, like the poultry industry in much of sub-Saharan Africa, is restricted in its ability to grow due to high feed costs and poor farm management practices. WISHH is working to address these limitations and build additional markets for U.S. soy.

Using USDA Agricultural Trade Promotion funding, WISHH commissioned an African aquaculture expert to evaluate the regional demand for fish feed, analyze distribution channels, and assess the region’s ability to develop into a significant aquaculture producer. The study started in April and completion is expected in September.

A WISHH strategic partner will then use study results to make feed mill investment decisions that will boost the aquaculture industry in the region. WISHH is also mentoring this company’s staff on business management and more by having them participate in WISHH’s USB-funded Mobilizing Entrepreneurs to Expand U.S. Soy Utilization in Developing and Emerging Markets Initiative.

WISHH’s West African poultry development work includes cooperation with the third-largest poultry producer in Senegal. The company’s CEO believes that vertical integration is key to

WISHH is currently working in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa shown in orange. WISHH has previous activities in countries shown in yellow.

their future success, because it will allow them to increase the scale and profitability of their operation as well as better control feed quality and the health of the birds.

ASA/WISHH and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) execute a coordinated strategy to create new export markets for U.S. soy. In tandem, USSEC and ASA/WISHH partner for progress on the four phases of U.S. soy commercial market sector development: developing, emerging, expansion, and mature. WISHH’s USDA-funded work in Ghana with Kansas State University (KSU) prepared KSU to take a leadership role in Nigeria through USSEC’s Soy Excellence Center that utilized USDA ATP resources.

“U.S. soybean growers receive value and efficiency for their investments through this coordinated strategy,” says Dawn Scheier, who serves on both the WISHH Program Committee and USSEC board.

WISHH is working directly with fish farmers on feeds that use soybean meal as well as leading a feasibility study of a new fish feed mill to supply several of the French-speaking countries in West Africa.

Soybean meal is the NO. 1 PROTEIN SOURCE

used in aquaculture worldwide.

Source USSEC

Fish provided about 3.3 BILLION PEOPLE

with almost 20 PERCENT of their average per capita intake of animal protein. In 2017, fish accounted for about 17 percent of total animal protein, and 7 percent of all proteins, consumed globally.

Source: The FAO State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2020 report

527% RISE

in global aquaculture production from 1990 to 2018.

Source: The FAO State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2020 report

World aquaculture production attained another all-time-record high of 114.5 MILLION TONS

in live weight in 2018, with a total farmgate sale value of USD 263.6 billion (the price of the product available at the farm, excluding any separately billed transport or delivery charge.)

Source: The FAO State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2020 report