ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 6, 2009

GOEHRING TO ADDRESS WORLD SOYBEAN CONFERENCE

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring will tell the world’s largest gathering of soybean research and industry representatives next week in Beijing that new technology and sustainable agricultural practices will enable the United States to meet the world’s increasing demand for soybeans and soybean products.

"Sustainability – the maximizing of production while maintaining soil, air and water quality – together with advances in technology will lead the way for continual growth of U.S. soybean production in the future,” Goehring said. “Our soybean industry has already developed production systems with proven environmental benefits, and we will soon see major consumer benefits with the introduction of new varieties with significantly improved nutritional qualities. Between advances in farming practices and these new varieties, U.S. soybean production is positioned to spiral up.”

Goehring will represent the United Soybean Board (USB) at the World Soybean Research Conference VIII. The international event, held every five years, draws thousands of producers, scientists and industry and government officials to focus on improving and increasing world soybean production. The conference, billed as “the Soybean Olympics,” explores scientific matters such as genetics, physiology and nutrition; trade and marketing concerns, including global demand, storage, transportation and logistics, and production issues.

Goehring will a chair a session on production practices, and will deliver a presentation on biotechnology and the environment during sessions on sustainable farming practices, at which farmers and farming organizations from around the world will present and discuss their approaches, and the associated benefits of changing practices.

"As farmers, we are increasingly challenged to balance the growing demands for food with environmental concerns,” he said.

Goehring will also meet with Chinese officials in Beijing and South Korean officials in Seoul on behalf of the North Dakota Trade Office.

"The purpose of these meetings is to help lay the groundwork for a North Dakota trade mission to the Far East in March,” he said. “We want to learn the needs and demands of prospective customers in regard to North Dakota commodities, especially identity preserved soybeans, wheat, durum, pulse crops, sunflowers and beef.”

Goehring leaves Friday for Beijing and returns August 19. 

More information on the World Soybean Research Conference VIII can be found at www.wsrc2009.cn.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov.