The president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Stu Swanson, sees promising market opportunities in India, both in the short and long term. Swanson recently returned from a trade mission to India, where he was accompanied by Iowa’s governor and the secretary of agriculture, reported Brownfield.
“This mission is about building markets for the future,” Swanson said. “It may not impact my farming operation right now, but it certainly holds great potential for my children and grandchildren.”
India currently does not import genetically modified corn, but Swanson is hopeful that as trade relationships strengthen, this might change. He highlighted India’s position as the third-largest importer of U.S. ethanol, though the ethanol is currently used only for industrial purposes.
In the short term, Swanson believes there are opportunities for India to increase its imports of U.S. soybean meal and dried distillers grains, which could be used as feed for the country’s poultry and dairy industries.
