By Brianna Smith

As global trade tensions reshape the flow of agricultural commodities, one of Ohio’s most specialized export markets is navigating both opportunity and uncertainty. Food-grade soybeans, prized for their high protein content and strict identity-preserved standards, remain in high demand overseas. Yet growers and exporters say a myriad of challenges are testing the profitability and predictability of this premium crop.

Food-grade soybeans, which are often non-GMO and grown under strict identity-preserved (IP) protocols, represent only a small fraction of total U.S. soybean production. According to a July 2025 survey from the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and USDA, about 83.4 million acres of soybeans were planted nationwide last year, with roughly 4%, or 3.34 million

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