The Executive Director, Soy Excellence Centre and Sub-Saharan Africa for United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC), Brent Babb, has disclosed that Nigeria imported 62,000 tonnes of US soybeans in early 2025 after a six-year break.
Babb stated this during the USSEC and US Soy Nigeria: Now Conference 2026, held recently in Lagos. “Over 60% of the US soybean crop is exported worldwide. We’ve worked extensively in Asia and North Africa, and we see strong opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria as the regional leader”, he noted.
According to Babb, population growth is driving demand, yet per capita protein consumption remains low. “That gap creates a significant opportunity”, he explained. “Nigeria grows soybeans, but as demand for consumption rises, more soybeans will need to be imported. Our role is to complement Nigeria”.
He revealed that USSEC would complement Nigeria by working directly with poultry, aquaculture, livestock, and soy food processors to build demand for and increase the use of soy. “We’re here for the long term. This isn’t a competition with local soy production. Local production and imports can grow together”, Babb said.
According to Babb, US Soy’s advantage goes beyond crude protein. “US Soy has high levels of digestible amino acids. It’s not just protein. It’s digestibility for poultry, livestock, and fish. The energy value is also often overlooked, and higher energy means you can reduce energy costs in the diet while maintaining performance.
“As a producer, you know the product will be the same every time, year-round. You don’t need to over-formulate because the digestibility and energy values are reliable. That reduces costs”, he asserted.
He added that US soybean leaders would collaborate with Nigerian farmers to improve the country’s soybean production through better technology and capacity development.
Babb was optimistic, but realistic about the challenges. “Financing is often the biggest challenge, pulling all the pieces together. The other is consistency across the value chain. You need quality day-old chicks, reliable soybean supplies for crushers to run at high capacity, and consumer demand that can withstand inflation”.
He expressed optimism about the sector’s prospects. “Growth won’t always be linear, but the energy is there, demand is there, financial investment is coming in, and the value chain gets stronger each year”, as Babb concluded that “Nigeria is well-positioned to take advantage of that opportunity”.
A soybean farmer from North Dakota and thd Director of US Soybean Export Council and United Soybean Board, Cindy Pulskamp, said, “We see it as collaboration. I’m looking to work with Nigerian agribusiness and food security stakeholders, sharing knowledge and learning from you”.
She disclosed that her 114-year-old family farm had achieved one of the lowest carbon footprints in global soy production through soil health and precision agriculture.
She emphasised that cover crops prevent erosion during high winds, Global Positioning System, GPS-guided technology reduces field passes, and drones replace heavy equipment for crop protection.
“Sustainability matters because our goal is to hand the soil to the next generation in better condition than we received it”, she said. On post-harvest losses, she noted that North Dakota’s dry climate gives US farmers an advantage.
“But my advice to Nigerians is practical: Where there is will and resources, there’s a way. I suspect high moisture and humidity during storage are the main loss drivers here. US Soy can be stored for a year or more while maintaining quality because of our climate and technology”, she added.
