Diverse team of industry leaders working to improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. soybean industry

QUALISOY™, a collaborative effort to improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. soybean industry, has announced its 2005 board of directors and executive committee, and approved market standards of quality.

At the board's meeting held in St. Louis, outgoing Chairman David Durham welcomed new board members, including Ike Boudreaux, director, United Soybean Board; Curt Raasch, director, United Soybean Board; and Aaron Schlenker, commodities manager, Archer Daniels Midland Company. The board of directors also voted the 2005 executive committee as follows:

Chairman: Jim Sutter - vice president, Cargill

Vice Chair: Ike Boudreaux - director, United Soybean Board

Treasurer: Dennis Byron - vice president, Crop Development, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

Member-at-Large:  Kerry Preete - vice president, U.S. Crop Production, Monsanto Company

Additionally, the board approved quality standards for U.S. soybean varieties. Soybeans endorsed by the QUALISOY board would be required to meet levels of low linolenic acid of 3 percent or less; mid-oleic acid at a minimum of 50 percent; and/or low saturated fatty acids at 7 percent.

"The QUALISOY board brings together a wealth of industry expertise with the common goal of maintaining the U.S. soybean industry's leadership position in the global marketplace," says QUALISOY 2005 Board Chairman Jim Sutter. "Thanks in part to this dynamic agricultural initiative, the soy industry has already made significant progress with the development of low linolenic soybeans and other key projects currently in the pipeline.

"The quality standards approved by QUALISOY's board of directors were established in cooperation with the industry and are a result of industry feedback on what our customers are demanding," adds Sutter.

The 22-member QUALISOY board sets research priorities, evaluates existing and emerging technologies, and determines which traits, products and processes will be eligible to carry the QUALISOY name. One of the board's primary objectives is to facilitate industry-wide cooperation and encourage a spirit of collaboration. The board consists of a diverse group of professionals, including farmers, researchers and representatives from multinational seed and chemical companies, regional agricultural companies, processors, food companies, and food and feed industry associations.

QUALISOY creates added value and increased global competitiveness for the U.S. soybean industry through the development, commercialization and promotion of enhanced quality traits. Specifically, QUALISOY is a collaborative effort among the soybean industry to develop soybeans that result in healthier oils, reduce environmental impacts of livestock production through improved soybean meal, and improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. soybean industry.