MANKATO – The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) supports programs that invest checkoff dollars toward building markets and growing demand for U.S. Soy across the globe.
Council Chair Gail Donkers and Director Joel Schreurs are continuing to play key roles in helping emerging markets mature through serving on the Global Advisory Panel (GAP) of the Soy Excellence Center (SEC), a checkoff-supported program that provides developing countries with tools and resources to grow their food and agribusinesses sectors.
Donkers was elected SEC GAP vice chair, while Schreurs was named SEC GAP treasurer during the SEC’s Annual Meeting Feb. 25 at Commodity Classic in San Antonio. Donkers said she’s grateful for the opportunity to continue representing Minnesota farmers in MSR&PC’s global efforts to diversify demand.
“It’s so amazing what the SEC is doing to educate people and showcase high-quality U.S. soybeans,” said Donkers, who farms in Faribault. “I’m surrounded by a talented group of farmers leaders that are passionate about promoting our soybeans around the world.”
Schreurs was also reappointed to represent MSR&PC on the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) as an Allied Class Member, and represents USSEC on SEC. He says the checkoff’s support of SEC helps elevate U.S. Soy from its competitors.
“As a USSEC member, it’s our job to incentivize and differentiate our soybeans in the global market,” Schreurs, a Tyler, Minn., farmer, said after USSEC’s Annual Meeting. “And the SEC is a huge win for us. It’s the best checkoff program I’ve ever seen, and I’m proud to be part of this group.”
USSEC CEO Jim Sutter said Minnesota has strong representation on USSEC and SEC.
“Joel is a great advocate, especially for our Soy Excellence Center, and so is Gail.” Sutter said. “SEC is something that’s different than anything we’ve ever done before, and it contributes to a strong preference for U.S. Soy. It has so exceeded our expectations.”
Founded in 2019 with checkoff support from state and national groups including MSR&PC, SEC works alongside USSEC to build emerging markets into examples of economic success by building the capacity and market potential of international food and agriculture businesses. Its goal is to build soy’s global reputation as a vector for change. Across five international facilities, the SEC delivers workforce training and capacity building needs across soy’s value chain to enhance industry capability and capacity across two dozen countries in the Americas, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and Northern Africa. It works with global experts as course facilitators in four fields: poultry, feed milling, swine and aquaculture production. Each year, the SEC trains nearly 20,000 protein professionals in nearly 200 training events around the world.
Donkers, who enters her second year on SEC GAP was elevated to vice chair after attending the 2025 SEC Asia Food Intermediate Course 2 in Singapore.
“The SEC training programs offer education to help people move ahead in their business and careers,” Donkers said. “It offers big opportunities to people to advance themselves in ways that they never anticipated.”
In their respective roles, Donkers and Schreurs are also focused on specific regions, including Southeast Asia and the Americas, and hope to continue those efforts this year.
“I’m excited to share my passion for education with others and grow demand for our soybeans,” Donkers said.
