Roots IOWA CORN
A LOOK INSIDE: EDUCATION
Celebrating 20 Years of Iowa Corn Leaders
MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Variety Meat: Adding Variety to Livestock and Corn Grower Profitability
RESEARCH
Corn: It’s Food, It’s Fuel, It’s Fabric, It’s Fashion
ICPB SPECIAL EDITION September 2022
iowacorn.org
Celebrating 20 Years of Iowa Corn Leaders For the past twenty years the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program has cultivated leaders from across the state. These farmers, educators, industry representatives and governmental officials who have made up the last ten I-LEAD classes, have made agriculture not just their job but also their passion. I-LEAD was created with the goal of developing new leaders within the agriculture industry who share the same drive for advocating and progressing the industry for future generations to come. Many members of these classes have gone on to become strong leaders and spokespeople for not only Iowa agriculture but also Iowa Corn. During the two-year long program, I-LEAD class members work to accomplish the following objectives: • Learn and understand how Iowa Corn operates and utilizes industry collaborations. • Define and develop their personal leadership style and message training. • Discover what grassroots leadership looks like at all levels. • Participate in domestic and international trade missions to learn about key markets and Iowa’s place in the world agriculture economy. Throughout its twenty years, the core of the I-LEAD program has stayed consistent with the goal to create and develop leaders in the agriculture industry and within Iowa Corn. Each class has continued to have more diverse individuals and backgrounds, bringing many different perspectives, experiences and leadership styles. As agriculture continues to evolve so will the goals and direction of the I-LEAD program, as it continues to meet the needs of today and tomorrow’s agricultural leaders. Hear from a few I-LEAD alumni about the experiences, opportunities and skills they gain from going through the program: Mark Recker - I-LEAD Class 1 Mark Recker was a member of the very first I-LEAD Class. After his I-LEAD experience, Mark got engaged in an Iowa Corn committee, elected to the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), served as ICGA president and became a team leader at the national level through National Corn Growers Association. “I was fortunate to have
EDUCATION
I-LEAD Class 1 on their international mission to Cuba (2002) 2 | Roots . 2022
the chance to participate in the first class. Having the opportunity to meet and learn with others in the ag industry and continue those relationships, was and still is invaluable to me. In my experience, getting off the farm and being willing to participate in I-LEAD opened not just opportunities to learn, but many other possibilities to participate in agricultural leadership. I know I still utilize the skills that I learned during I-LEAD. Over the years, I-LEAD has only improved and has developed into a premier ag leadership program.” Logan Lyon - I-LEAD Class 9 Logan Lyon, ICGA Director for District 6 and member of I-LEAD Class 9 shared how he has continued to engage with Iowa Corn, past his leadership development program. “The opportunities that come with getting involved with Iowa Corn have been everlasting. I started my engagement as a member of the Collegiate Advisory Team while at Iowa State, where I was able to develop professional skills and my network in college. Then I joined the I-LEAD Class 9 and gained an understanding of all the inner workings of agriculture in the Midwest and Iowa Corn. After I-LEAD graduation I ran for a board position to promote long-term profitability for Iowa corn farmers, and now serve as District 6 Director of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. These programs have allowed me to gain new skills and continue to take the next step as a leader within the organization.” Joe Roberts - I-LEAD Class 10 Joe Roberts is a member of the current I-LEAD class, a class that was met with much adversary and challenges being held during the pandemic. The skill gained through this experience have helped prepare Joe to take the next steps in Iowa Corn, where he will be serving on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board for District 2. “Being a part of I-LEAD Class 10 has prepared me to be a leader within any organization but more importantly has offered something no other organization can in experiences gained,” shared Joe Roberts. “The true value of the program won’t be fully realized until well after completion as doors continue to be opened thanks to the strong network of corn farmers and industry professionals we’ve been introduced to. Iowa Corn has done a phenomenal job with the program by creating the next generation of leaders to continue advancing agriculture and creating new opportunities for corn farmers.” Applications for I-LEAD Class 11 will open Spring 2023. For more information about I-LEAD or to be notified when applications are available visit iowacorn.org/ilead.
I-LEAD Class 10 on farm tours in Maryland during Corn Congress (2022)
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MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Variety Meat: Adding Variety to Livestock and Corn Grower Profitability Through investing in the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) works to grow beef and pork exports that are critical to bringing profitability not only to livestock producers, but also to Iowa corn farmers. For every dollar invested in USMEF’s export programs $3.87 is generated on median net returns for beef and $7.42 for pork industries. Looking at Iowa specifically, U.S. beef and pork exports contributed $135.30 per Iowa corn acre ($0.66/bushel at a yield of 205 bushels/acre in 2021). “The partnership between corn farmers and livestock producers is something that is coming back and benefiting us all. The value red meat exports bring to corn producers is something I think about every time I load out cattle and hogs. This export demand not only adds to my livestock operation but adds significant value to my crops through the added value it brings to corn, distillers grains (DDGS) and soybean meal that I market through my livestock,” shared Dean Meyer, ICGA Director for District 1 and USMEF Chair-elect. “A significant bonus from meat exports is the added value of variety meats in international markets that have little or no value domestically. This all comes back to add value to our corn.” Variety meats, meat cuts not often utilized in the U.S., are in high demand around the world, making up nearly 19% of U.S. red meat export volume in 2021. Last year was record setting for both pork and beef variety meat exports, exceeding $1 billion for beef, adding a value of $41.82 per head, and reaching $1.2 billion for pork, adding a value of $9.58 per head. This value-added market created by USMEF adds $2.33 billion of value. Across the world, variety meats hold a great value in many cultures and cuisines. With a presence in over 80 countries, USMEF is able to do many unique marketing campaigns across the world that create a positive impact on the global sales of variety meats. Check out the top U.S. beef and pork export markets for variety meats.
For more information visit usmef.org.
Japan
Philippines
Tongue
Heart, Liver, Kidney
Mexico
Stomach, Intestines, Tongue, Feet, Skin
South Korea
Top U.S. Pork Variety Meat Export Markets
China
Feet, Head, Stomach, Intestines
Japan
Top U.S. Beef Variety Meat Export Markets
Tongue
South America
China/ Hong Kong
Mexico
Tripe
Peru
Lips, Tongue, Tripe
Liver
Egypt Liver
Southern Africa
Liver, Kidney
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RESEARCH
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Q&A with Dr. Alex Buck, Industrial Innovation Manager
CORN: IT’S FOOD, IT’S FUEL, IT’S FABRIC, IT’S FASHION Can you tell us a little about the Qore Project and what is happening at the Cargill Eddyville plant?
What other opportunities and new uses are there for corn-based products?
Cargill and HELM are working on a joint venture to commercialize a new chemical that utilizes corn sugar in fabrics. This joint venture, known as Qore, is constructing a plant next to the Cargill wet mill in Eddyville, Iowa, that will make a chemical known as 1,4-butanediol or BDO and market it as QIRA™ . The production plant is expected to be operational in 2024 and will produce 143 million pounds of BDO/QIRA™ annually.
The future opportunities for corn-based products are very exciting. For the corn industry, it is great to see major brands and companies interested and moving forward with using corn in their supply chains. Having access to diverse types of markets is valuable to corn farmers. We need those high-volume products like feed and ethanol, but we also need high-value products like chemicals and fabrics to bring a combination of value and volume to corn demand.
What is QIRA™, and what is it used for? BDO is a chemical utilized in fabrics that is currently made from petroleum. QIRA™, however, will be made from corn sugar produced at the Cargill Eddyville plant. QIRA™ will be a plant-based drop-in replacement for petroleum-based BDO, meaning consumers won’t notice any difference in the look or feel of their favorite fabrics, other than knowing the plantbased product they purchased will save up to 93% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum. Other products that can use QIRA™ include soles of shoes, grips on power tools, watch bands, artificial leather, golf balls and athletic wear. Why are companies like lululemon® and Under Armour® diversifying their supply chain to use plant-based products in their clothing?
Major brands aren’t the only ones developing new uses beneficial to farmers. Iowa Corn has been researching, developing and investing in corn-based chemicals for years. In fact, this year Iowa Corn sold its patents, technology and know-how for producing monoethylene glycol (MEG) from corn sugar to Technip Energies. Technip Energies will construct and operate a pilot plant and begin licensing efforts to commercialize the technology. Over 70 billion pounds of MEG is used in the world every year with the yearly growth in the market equal to nearly 100 million bushels of corn. Plant-based MEG can displace petroleum-based MEG when making polyester, which is utilized in clothing and fashion by companies such as lululemon®. Iowa Corn will continue to invest and explore new uses for corn to continue to drive more corn grind and increase Iowa corn grower profitability.
Popular apparel and athletic brands like lululemon® and Under Armour®, as well as consumers, are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of clothing and are searching for new ways to minimize this impact. Fashion is always changing, and there can often be a lot of waste as styles or items are not reused or repurposed. In our world today, many fabrics are made from petroleum-based plastic, and finding a more sustainable, renewable option is a goal for these companies. After all Cargill and HELM estimate that corn-based QIRA™ will save up to 93% of greenhouse gas emissions versus petroleum, lowering the overall impact of products and fabrics made with this technology. What does this new use mean for corn farmers? As an industry, we are always looking for new avenues to grind more corn. Fabrics and materials are typically dominated by petroleum feedstocks, so this is an exciting and promising opportunity for corn. When we displace products not currently made from corn, we increase corn demand and bring in more profitability for corn farmers. Based on my estimation, QIRA™ could utilize over 9 million bushels of corn every year.
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