Marty Matlock, professor of biological and agricultural engineering and member of the Cherokee Nation, met with ambassador to the U.S. from the European Union Jovita Neliupšienė at "Crafting the Transatlantic Green Marketplace Trade and Technology Dialogue" in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 31, 2024.

Matlock co-facilitated with Matheiu Lamolle, United Nations International Trade Center, a session titled "Empowering Transatlantic Collaboration: Enhancing Sustainability in the U.S. and EU Feed Sectors." The discussions centered on better understanding of the sustainability outcomes from U.S. production of grains, especially soy and corn, that EU nations import for animal feed.

"The EU has become one of the largest importers of U.S. soy after China in the world, importing nearly 5 million metric tons of U.S. soy in 2023. The U.S. is now the largest supplier of soy to the EU," Matlock said.

The challenge for U.S. soy producers is that the EU is expanding sustainability reporting requirements for eligibility for import to the EU market. The United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) developed the Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) in 2014 in anticipation of these challenges. For market year 2023 (September to August), 70% of US soy exports globally were verified sustainable with the SSAP. That amount is nearly 45 million metric tons.

Matlock has worked with USSEC to develop measures and goals for U.S. soy sustainability since 2008. He received the United Soybean Board Freedom to Operate Award in 2015.

"Arkansas agricultural producers feed the world," Matlock said. "We have to be engaged with the decision makers in agricultural trade around the world if we are to continue to grow a robust, sustainable and prosperous agricultural supply chain."