Engineering Professor Joins U.S. Soybean Export Council Discussion With Chinese Ambassador

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Marty Matlock, professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at the U of A and research professor in the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, was invited to join the United States Soybean Export Council on Sept. 16 in St. Louis as they hosted Qin Gang, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S.

The Agricultural Experiment Station is the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

The participants joined in a roundtable discussion focused on sustainable and climate smart agricultural practices. The group included U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Deputy Under Secretary Jason Hafemeister, as well as Chinese delegates and leaders from the U.S. and China's food and agriculture industries.

Matlock has worked with the council for 15 years to develop goals, metrics and assessment tools for sustainability. His work covered interests and impacts that include soil resilience, water use efficiency, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and land use impacts.

In response to discussion of the role of U.S. soybean producers in leading innovation in sustainable production, Ambassador Gang said, "Agriculture is a key contributor to China's green development. We (China and the U.S.) have a common responsibility to promote sustainable agriculture and food security for future generations.

"Our market will remain open, and we will continue to collaborate with U.S. farmers, companies and entities who want to advance green development of China's food and agriculture," Gang said.

Jim Sutter, CEO of the council, said, "We all have a responsibility to act for consumers, our children and our grandchildren."

China is the world's leading soy consumer and the largest importer of U.S. soybean products, including edible oil and soy foods for people as well as feed for Chinese pork, egg, aquaculture and poultry production. U.S. soy has collaborated in China since 1982.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and on Instagram at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.