India needs to meet its protein requirement through imports, where domestic production falls short

To promote US soya in the Indian market, The US Soybean Export Council is focusing on building skills to address protein deficiency while recognising the need to raise awareness about the crucial role protein plays in diets. Kevin Roepke, Executive Director – Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA), US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Franklin Manuel, India Market Lead, US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) reveal more about the future of the Indian soya market and the regulatory challenges. Edited excerpts:

How are you supporting India’s protein sectors with both technical knowledge and access to US soya products?

At the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC), our foundational pillars include knowledge sharing and increasing access to protein. In India, we host numerous technical training sessions and workshops across poultry, aquaculture and soy foods and beverages that strengthen knowledge, teach best practices and ways to mitigate risks.

We also have a dedicated Soy Excellence Center India programme, geared towards early- to mid-career professionals in the protein sector.

While we focus on building skills to address protein deficiency, we also recognise the need to raise awareness about the crucial role protein plays in diets. This is where our Right to Protein (RTP) campaign comes in. Through RTP, we are raising awareness about the important role that protein plays in building a nourished India, especially for pregnant women and young children, where protein plays a significant role in brain development. We believe that having access to affordable and nutritious protein is a fundamental right for every individual. The RTP campaign encourages everyone to rethink how they plate their food. While people may be aware of the importance of protein, they may not be consuming enough of it to gain its full benefits. The best part about RTP is that it is protein-agnostic, which means we support all forms of protein.

By calling for more inclusion of protein, we aim to encourage a healthier, stronger, and cognizant society. Since we launched our RTP campaign around four years ago, we have had the privilege of partnering with India’s key voices and amplifying our message through various platforms, including events, sponsorships, media, and more. We hope to continue our efforts to make the Right to Protein a reality for all.

The current tariff regime between the US and India means US-origin soyabeans and soyameal destined for India face steep trade barriers. Is this a deterrent for promoting US-based soya in the Indian market?

While we currently face market access challenges, we remain optimistic. With India’s rising demand and industry growth, the country will need to meet its protein requirement through imports where domestic production falls short. A demand that US Soya is well-positioned to meet. 

For India’s industry, this would mean access to consistent, high-quality and verified sustainable soya, resulting in lower feed costs. For US soyabean farmers, this would translate to market access to one of the world’s largest economies. A mutually beneficial situation for both.

Last year, the US Soybean Export Council launched the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) in India, designed for early-to mid-career professionals in the protein and agribusiness sectors. One year down the line, what have been the developments so far?

Our SEC India is on a rapid growth trajectory and we are excited to see how far we have come. Since our launch almost two years ago, we have gained significant momentum. To date, we have trained 900+ participants through our aquaculture, dairy, feed milling, poultry, and soy foods and beverages learning tracks. SEC India is on a mission to empower the next generation of protein professionals by teaching them skills that minimise waste, increase efficiency, and foster sustainable growth. SEC’s courses are based on real-world practical skills that participants can implement in their day-to-day work and improve their operations.

What sets SEC India apart is its online community. Our participants don’t just leave after they complete their course; they stay connected with fellow professionals and participants around the world through our engaging online platform. This ecosystem of continuous learning encourages professional growth that translates to bottom-line gains for our course takers.

GM soyabeans are widely accepted around the world. How can India come around to meeting its rising protein demand?

As one of the largest animal feed markets in the world, India’s demand for feed will continue to surge. Embracing science-backed technology, such as GM, can help India stay globally competitive while positioning it as a leader. GM technology is also widely accepted globally, including in the European Union, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East.

What are the current regulatory challenges being faced by the US soya market in India?

India’s edible oil industry and US Soy have a strong partnership. In the marketing year 2024/25, India imported 228,000 metric tonne of US soybean oil. In 2022-2021, India also opened market access for GM soybean meal, importing 1.2 million metric tons of soyabean meal to meet the poultry industry’s growing demand for feed. These imports show that US soyabean farmers are committed to meeting India’s protein needs sustainably. We are optimistic about the US soya in India. US Soya remains a supplier of choice, whether it is GM or non-GM, and our farmers are committed to delivering high-quality solutions that our customers need.

What are your plans for the Indian market five years down the line?

We aim to expand our efforts in capacity building and knowledge sharing through SEC India, as well as advocating for the Right to Protein. We also plan to strengthen our relationships with industry partners, which will help improve food and nutrition security across India.

Sanjiv Das
sanjiv.das@mmactiv.com