(NAFB) – Directors of the United Soybean Board this week met virtually to define strategies and goals for 2022 investments.

Those priorities include strengthening soy’s position in the U.S. and global marketplaces related to soybean meal, oil and sustainability. USB’s financial stewardship and program development responsibilities include investing in projects to promote the sustainability of U.S. soy as a market differentiator domestically and to build new markets abroad.

In addition, the soy checkoff funds education to enhance end-user awareness of soy products and research to strengthen the resilience of soybean production, improve meal quality and develop new uses for soybean oil.

Nearly 500 proposals were submitted to achieve checkoff objectives in research education and promotion. The shared goal of all selected proposals is to strengthen U.S. soy’s reputation and competitive advantage when it comes to nutrition, quality and sustainability.

Between now and USB’s next meeting in July, checkoff farmer-leaders will review proposals in detail to determine strategic fit ahead of making their final 2022 project portfolio recommendations.