Training program elevates grain procurement skills
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently hosted Moroccan grain purchasers for a specialized procurement management course at the Northern Crops Institute, North Dakota State University. The initiative is a strategic move to fortify trade skills and international relations between the U.S. and Africa.
Mohamed Salah Bouthour, USGC Deputy Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the importance of such training to prepare Moroccan importers for the increasing demand for feed grains.
The comprehensive course included educational sessions on market strategies, financial tools, and U.S. logistics, offering both theoretical knowledge and practical application through simulated trading exercises.
In addition to classroom learning, the program included field trips to key U.S. agricultural facilities like a feed mill, a shuttle train loading facility, and CHS, Inc.'s export terminal. These visits provided invaluable insights into the operational scale of U.S. grain production and exportation.
The training extended to Minnesota, where participants observed operations at the Duluth Seaway Port and engaged with traders at Hansen-Mueller’s grain terminal elevator.
The culmination of the program was a series of meetings with agriculture giants Cargill and ADM, where Moroccan buyers practiced negotiation skills and discussed global trading tactics.
This educational outreach by the USGC is pivotal in bolstering Moroccan procurement capabilities and enhancing the global trade network, aligning with the Council's goals to deepen U.S. agricultural influence in burgeoning markets like Africa.