Last week, the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) hosted a tour bringing together members of the Mexican agri-food industry in Guadalajara, Mexicali and Querétaro, including animal feed manufacturers, grain traders and domestic beef, pork and poultry producers. Each event saw participants directly interact with industry experts and colleagues, gain practical knowledge to improve their grain storage operations and stay abreast of industry trends and technological advancements.
USGBC Grain Storage Consultant Pedro Kadota led the Council’s delegation that included private sector and academic industry experts to deliver comprehensive technical sessions about proactive grain management.
“By strengthening technical capabilities throughout the value chain, the Council can help improve operational efficiency, reduce economic losses associated with spoilage and quality deterioration and support more consistent corn use,” Kadota said.
“Addressing key challenges like high moisture variability, insect proliferation and the generation of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM), which directly impact feed efficiency and profitability for Mexican end users, enhances the value proposition of U.S. corn and its co-products in a wider range of environments.”
At each of the three roadshow locations, the Council’s team presented the latest innovations in grain monitoring technologies, including sensors, digital tools and data-driven approaches, with practical guidance for field-level implementation in tropical and high-risk storage environments.
Next, participants learned of current fumigation protocols, resistance management and emerging pest control technologies, complemented by hands-on guidance in stored product insect identification.
The final session focused on increased use of advanced monitoring technologies that enable earlier detection of storage risks and empower more data-driven operational decisions.
“This program is built on previous technical missions, pilot projects and industry partnerships that reinforce the Council’s role as a trusted technical resource and partner for broader trade advances in Mexico,” Kadota said.
“These initiatives contribute to increased confidence in U.S. grain quality, support sustained demand growth and strengthen long-term trade relationships between U.S. suppliers and Mexican buyers.”
Learn more about the Council’s work in Mexico on the organization’s website.