The U.S. Grains Council, leveraging Market Access Program (MAP) funding, sponsored a key regional buyer, Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), to attend the annual “Grain Procurement Management” course hosted by the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) at North Dakota State University, from September 9 to 18, 2024.
As part of the program, meetings were arranged with strategic industry contacts based in Minneapolis, including visits to the headquarters of major suppliers such as Cargill and CHS. During these visits, CMI representatives took the opportunity to engage directly with commercial managers, assess their purchasing needs and receive immediate offers, thus bypassing traditional bidding processes.
Thanks to this direct interaction, CMI secured the purchase of 40,000 metric tons of U.S. corn, valued at approximately $8.2 million, destined for Guatemala and El Salvador. By investing just $2,200 of MAP funds, the Council directly fostered new commercial opportunities and showcased the value of U.S. grains. This strategic sponsorship not only secured a ROI of $3,700 for every $1 of MAP funding invested, but also strengthened the Council’s critical relationship with regional importers. The success of the buyer’s substantial purchase underscores the Council’s ongoing commitment to expanding the global market for U.S. agriculture.
This sponsorship not only strengthened the commercial relationship with CMI but also opened the door to future collaborations with other branches of the group across the region. In this way, the Council continues to promote U.S. grains, including corn, sorghum and co-products, and supports participation in USGC-led initiatives such as studies, storage programs, technical visits, trade missions and conferences, among others.
Given the positive impact and tangible results from their participation in the course, the Council is considering future sponsorships in similar events, with the goal of fostering strong relationships and strategic partnerships, like the one with CMI, and generating new business opportunities throughout the region.