The Specialty Soy and Grains Alliance (SSGA), a business alliance of identity preserved agriculture in the United States, hosted the US Identity Preserved International Workshop at the Marriott Hotel, Naxal on Thursday.

Identity preservation is a meticulous process of maintenance of unique qualities of a food product.

The event brought together Nepal’s leading soy manufacturers, industry leaders, and farmers to explain the value and benefits of US-identified preserved grains and oilseeds.

One of the event's highlights was Shree Radhe Rani International Trading receiving the first Identity Preservation Certificate in the world. This certification allows Nepali soy sauce manufacturers using American soy to display the ‘Identity Preserved United States’ logo on their products, which will help them boost their credibility and market value in the global market.

“Our company is the first to receive the Identity Preserved certificate in the world. From today, Nepali soy sauce manufacturers using American soy can display the IP logo on all their products. This achievement was made possible with the help and support of the Specialty Soy and Grains Alliance (SSGA) and the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC),” said Gaurav Agrawal, director of Shree Radhe Rani International Trading.

The event also showcased local foods from US identity-preserved soy, including nuts, flours, tofu, and desserts.

The workshop had several key speakers, including Tom Frisch, a US-based farmer who presented on growing US IP soy and other crops.

Nishith Kumar, a soy food technical consultant, presented a soy food manufacturing demonstration and sampling that featured tofu, traditional sweets, toasted soy nuts, etc.

Similarly, the food and beverage Director of Marriott Hotel, Joghindar Singh and Suresh Itapu, CEO of NuriTech Consulting Services Pvt Ltd, delivered presentations on the potential for premium soy in Nepal’s food and beverage sector and value-added products derived from all US IP soybeans.