U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council

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U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council develops export markets for U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, ethanol and distiller’s grains with solubles.

We believe exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability.

Export Exchange 2026, sponsored by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Associat...
10/18/2026

Export Exchange 2026, sponsored by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association, concluded Saturday with a focus on new products, sustainability and the superior value of U.S. corn.

Export Exchange is a biannual event allowing buyers and sellers of U.S. corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles, sorghum and other commodities to network and gain a better understanding of the needs of buyers around the world and the caliber of supply the U.S. provides.

Speakers during the last day of the event illustrated numerous reasons why U.S. commodities offer the best advantage to global buyers and how its scalable and transparent export system provides direct access to satisfy grain needs around the world.

“Whether you’re heading home or out to see the U.S. value chain up close in one of our partner states, we appreciate you spending time getting to know the U.S. commodities we are so proud of. We hope you leave us with no doubt that superiority of U.S. products is just that... superior,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGBC president and CEO.

"This edition of Export Exchange shattered previous records with more than 500 attendees from 48 countries. Your participation demonstrates international understanding of the level of service you get when you buy U.S. grains and their co-products."

Additional concluding presentations included a dive into details about new co-products in the market by Distillers Technology Council Executive Director Joe Ward; a look into how the U.S. Department of Agriculture works to expand U.S. agricultural exports with USDA International Trade Specialist Collin Bradley; and a panel discussion about U.S. corn’s superior performance and value moderated by USGBC Manager of Global Strategies and Trade Mark Sevier.

Thirteen trade teams visited key corn value chain stakeholders prior to Export Exchange, and at the conclusion of the conference seven more groups will head out across the country to observe farming operations, explore DDGS production at ethanol plants, view port facilities and more to build their networks with U.S. suppliers.

These groups include:
Bangladesh: heading to North Dakota, Oct. 18-21
China: heading to Texas, Oct. 18-21
China and Mongolia: heading to Kansas, Oct. 18-21
Latin America: heading to Ohio, Oct. 18-21
South Korea: heading to Minnesota, Oct. 18-21
Southeast Asia: heading to Nebraska, Oct. 18-21
Southeast Asia: heading to Indiana, Oct. 18-21

More information is available at reg.eventmobi.com/export-exchange-2026 or on social media at .

Export Exchange 2026 continued yesterday in Seattle, Wash., where we partnered with Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuel...
10/17/2026

Export Exchange 2026 continued yesterday in Seattle, Wash., where we partnered with Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association, welcoming more than 500 guests including international buyers and domestic U.S. value chain stakeholders to the conference.

With more than 20 industry exhibitors to further showcase the breadth of the U.S. agriculture and agribusiness industries, Export Exchange encourages real-time trade and relationship building.

“The Council engages in your local markets to help provide answers like these to questions you may have about U.S. grains and we offer conferences like this one to put you in direct contact with trade and research experts who can answer questions you have about U.S. commodities,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGBC president and CEO in his remarks at the event’s opening general session.

“Here, you can build business-to-business relationships with U.S. agricultural representatives and industry leaders to cultivate the future between your country and ours.”

Later in the morning’s sessions, Northwest Seaport Alliance Commissioner Ryan Calkins welcomed attendees to the region and U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Deputy Administrator for Trade Policy and Geographical Affairs Chris Riker provided an overview of how U.S. agricultural products are advancing in markets around the world.

USGBC Chairman Jay Reiners signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BioPower Energy, a joint venture of Quazar Investment and Petron Scientech that plans to build, own and operate a fully integrated biorefinery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday. The MOU signified BioPower Energy’s intention to procure 50 to 100 percent of its feedstock needs from U.S. suppliers.

Other Friday speakers illustrated the breadth and scope of the U.S. feed grain value chain, including Growth Energy Director of Global Policy Emily Marthaler; ProExporter Network President Marty Ruikka; RFA Chief Counsel Ed Hubbard; Wittaya Aqua CEO Stephen Gunter; RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman; United Sorghum Checkoff Program Executive Director Norma Ritz Johnson; USGBC Director of Global Sustainability Carlos F. Suárez; and Polaris Analytics and Consulting Managing Member Ken Eriksen.

Export Exchange 2026 will conclude tomorrow with details about new co-products in the market by Dried Distillers Council Executive Director Joe Ward; a look into how the U.S. Department of Agriculture works to expand U.S. agricultural exports with USDA International Trade Specialist Collin Bradley; and a panel discussion about U.S. corn’s superior performance and value moderated by USGBC Manager of Global Strategies and Trade Mark Sevier.

Outside of the general sessions, Export Exchange 2026 also features an exhibit hall with more than 20 producers, associations and agribusinesses and dedicated meeting spaces for attendees to make connections and build their businesses.

More information is available at reg.eventmobi.com/export-exchange-2026 or on social media using the hashtag .

Our final session of features the panel Beyond The Price: How U.S Corn Delivers Added Value. Join Mark Sevier, Kurt Sh...
10/17/2026

Our final session of features the panel Beyond The Price: How U.S Corn Delivers Added Value. Join Mark Sevier, Kurt Shultz, Alexander Grabois and Dirk Maier to wrap up this year's event.

⏩ Mark Sevier serves as the manager of global strategies and trade for the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the global use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including ethanol and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). In this capacity, he supervises the Council’s overseas offices’ through backstopping and supporting the offices with their market development programs, and provides trade servicing expertise to the Council, strengthens the Council’s relationships with U.S. and global traders and Council customers and end users worldwide.

⏩ Kurt Shultz serves as Senior Director of Global Strategies for the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, leading long-term planning, strategic initiatives and program evaluation. Since joining the Council in 1999, he has held leadership roles overseeing international operations and market development programs across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. Previously, Shultz worked in environmental health and safety and agricultural research and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He holds degrees from UC Davis and the University of the Virgin Islands.

⏩ Alexander Grabois serves as Deputy Regional Director of Latin America for the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, leading market promotion, policy advisory and demand-building programs for U.S. coarse grains and ethanol. Previously, he served as the Council’s Manager of Global Strategies and Trade. Grabois brings nearly a decade of international trade experience with ProChile and previously worked at the Chilean Consulate in New York and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. He holds degrees from Baruch College and Seton Hall University.

Rounding out general session five tomorrow is Joe Ward of the Distillers Grains Technology Council. With over 500 attend...
10/16/2026

Rounding out general session five tomorrow is Joe Ward of the Distillers Grains Technology Council. With over 500 attendees in 2026, Export Exchange addresses critical issues facing U.S. exports and seek to educate and build awareness of the benefits of U.S. corn, sorghum, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and other products.

⏩ Joseph W. Ward, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Distillers Grains Technology Council. Born and raised on a livestock farm in Indiana. Active in 4-H and FFA throughout his informative years. He attended Purdue University earning a BS in Animal Science and MS in Ruminant Nutrition. He also earned a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in Ruminant Nutrition. Active in animal production agriculture, manufacturing, and processing since the early 90’s. Research activities include promoting holistic animal health through improved production practices using bio-functional ingredients and co-products arising from the ethanol and bio-refinery industry.

📸 Thursday at Export Exchange
10/16/2026

📸 Thursday at Export Exchange

Today at Export Exchange 2026, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council Chairman Jay Reiners signed a memorandum of understandi...
10/16/2026

Today at Export Exchange 2026, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council Chairman Jay Reiners signed a memorandum of understanding with BioPower Energy, a joint venture of Quazar Investment and Petron Scientech that plans to build, own and operate a fully integrated biorefinery in the United Arab Emirates.

The MOU signified BioPower Energy’s intention to procure 50 to 100 percent of its feedstock needs from U.S. suppliers with an initial guaranteed minimum floor of one million metric tons (39 million bushels) in purchases annually.

BioPower Energy Solutions CEO Sameer Salgar signed the MOU with Reiners and U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Deputy Administrator for Trade Policy and Geographical Affairs Chris Riker observed the ceremony.

“This MOU is an outstanding example of international collaboration that benefits all parties. The Council is proud to be part of this joint effort to promote the continuous and stable growth of U.S. corn purchases while helping provide renewable fuels and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the UAE and markets around the world,” Reiners said.

Join session four speaker Ken Eriksen for a discussion around navigating global freight and shipping dynamics. Export Ex...
10/16/2026

Join session four speaker Ken Eriksen for a discussion around navigating global freight and shipping dynamics. Export Exchange is a premier industry event sponsored by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy, offering an unparalleled opportunity to connect and build relationships with members of the U.S. grains production and export industries.

⏩ Ken A. Eriksen is Managing Member of Polaris Analytics and Consulting and a strategic advisor to the commodities, supply chain, logistics and transportation industries. He previously held senior leadership roles with S&P Global and its predecessor companies, leading transportation, industrial, energy and consulting groups. Eriksen is a frequent speaker and expert witness on commodity markets, transportation, logistics and infrastructure. Earlier in his career, he worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as an international longshoreman. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Washington State University.

⏩ Export Exchange 2026 Kicks Off In SeattleMore than 500 international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and their c...
10/16/2026

⏩ Export Exchange 2026 Kicks Off In Seattle

More than 500 international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and their co-products from more than 50 countries are arriving in Seattle, Wash., this week for Export Exchange 2026, ready to meet with nearly 300 U.S. suppliers and service providers across the value chain.

Co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association, Export Exchange 2026 offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to meet and build relationships with domestic suppliers of corn, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), sorghum, barley and other commodities.

“U.S. farmers and agricultural producers depend on export markets to maintain strong demand for their products, making each iteration of Export Exchange a crucially important event for the industry at-large,” said Jay Reiners, USGBC chairman.

“The Council strives to be a reliable partner for producers and customers by offering trade teams for buyer groups and by providing technical education to help potential buyers better understand how to procure and use U.S. grains to meet the needs of their country’s consumers.”

In addition to the networking opportunities for international and domestic attendees to build their business connections, the event boasts six general sessions with impactful industry leaders sharing their perspectives on U.S. feed grain quality and global market factors.

On Friday, Reiners will also sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BioPower Energy, a joint venture of Quazar Investment and Petron Scientech that plans to build, own and operate a fully integrated biorefinery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The MOU will signify BioPower Energy’s intention to procure 50 to 100 percent of its feedstock needs from U.S. suppliers.

The Council organized 20 trade teams to show international buyers and end-users aspects of the U.S. value chain to strengthen their understanding of U.S. crop quality and logistical safety protocols. Thirteen trade teams arrived in the U.S. before Export Exchange and visited corn-growing states during harvest, explored DDGS production at ethanol plants and viewed port facilities. After the event, the remaining seven trade teams will leave for post-conference tours.

The conference runs through Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Seattle. More information, including registration details, is available at reg.eventmobi.com/export-exchange-2026 or on social media using the hashtag .

Thank you to our Export Exchange 2026 sponsors!
10/15/2026

Thank you to our Export Exchange 2026 sponsors!

Don’t miss session five when USDA’s Collin Bradley takes the stage! Bradley will speak on expanding access to U.S. agric...
10/15/2026

Don’t miss session five when USDA’s Collin Bradley takes the stage! Bradley will speak on expanding access to U.S. agricultural exports, a key component of Export Exchange.

⏩️ Collin Bradley is an International Trade Specialist in the Credit Programs Division of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. In this role, he conducts outreach and business development with both U.S. exporters and international buyers in Asia to promote usage of USDA’s GSM-102 Export Credit Guarantee Program. Before joining the Credit Programs Division, Collin held various positions within U.S. Department of Agriculture. This includes supporting the monitoring and evaluation of FAS’s international food assistance programs: Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program.

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