Wisconsin Soybean Association director and American Soybean Association Treasurer Tanner Johnson attended a U.S. Soybean Export Council conference Sept. 22–23 in Amsterdam focused on sustainability and the future of soy trade.

“Resilient Soy Supply Chains: Navigating Sustainability in a Changing World” brought together representatives from agriculture, government and the food and feed industries to examine changing market expectations and opportunities for U.S. soy.

Discussions explored how businesses can maintain reliable soy supplies while meeting increasing demands for transparency, traceability and environmental reporting. Participants heard from Dutch authorities responsible for enforcing the EU Deforestation Regulation and examined its practical implications for international trade. Other sessions addressed soy’s carbon footprint and how environmental data can be shared throughout the supply chain.

Johnson brought a unique perspective to the discussion, drawing on his relatively new life as a farmer.

“I shared the sustainable farming practices we use on our operation, provided an update on the growing season and discussed the challenges of being a first-generation farmer,” Johnson said. “Throughout the conference, I met with buyers from across greater Europe to help them understand the quality advantages of U.S. soy.”

The European Union remains a significant customer for U.S. farmers. According to USSEC CEO Jim Sutter, the EU’s 27 member countries imported approximately 36 million metric tons of soy during the 2024/25 marketing year. U.S. soy accounted for approximately 6.3 million metric tons, or 17.5%, making the EU-27 the third-largest market for U.S. soy.

Sutter highlighted American farmers’ conservation practices, including conservation tillage, cover crops and crop rotation, as strengths in a market increasingly focused on sustainability. He also pointed to the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol as a tool for verifying sustainable production.

Beyond government regulations, European customers’ purchasing requirements are shaping how soy is sourced and documented, reinforcing the connection between on-farm practices and access to international markets.