Industry leaders and stakeholders from Bangladesh’s poultry and feed sectors have underscored the critical role of soybeans as a sustainable, high-quality, and cost-effective protein source for both human nutrition and animal feed.
The remarks came during a discussion held Tuesday at the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) office in Bashundhara, Dhaka, marking the country’s first observance of “Soy Month”.
The event was jointly organised by the BPICC and the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to raise awareness of soybean’s nutritional value and its importance to food and feed security.
BPICC President Shamsul Arefin Khaled stressed the importance of soybean meal in livestock feed, citing its balanced amino acid profile — including lysine, tryptophan, threonine, and isoleucine — as essential for animal growth and health.
He noted that soybean meal is not only highly digestible and palatable for livestock but also more affordable than alternatives like fishmeal.
Moshiur Rahman, president of the World’s Poultry Science Association-Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB), said Bangladesh requires 2.5 to 2.6 million tonnes of soybean meal annually.
While local soybean production is minimal, about 60%–75% of the demand is met through domestic crushing facilities.
Md Nazrul Islam, general secretary of the Feed Industries Association Bangladesh (FIAB), pointed to rising demand for animal feed as chicken and egg consumption is expected to double by 2050.
“Growth in poultry production directly increases the demand for soybean meal,” he said.
In a message to the event, Md Hasan, managing director of City Group, called soybeans a “miracle bean” containing all nine essential amino acids.
City Group, one of the country’s leading soybean oil producers, sources oilseeds primarily from the US and processes soymeal for the feed sector. He commended USSEC and BPICC for initiating Soy Month.
Tanzima Mostafa, director of Meghna Group of Industries (MGI), highlighted soy’s significance in global nutrition.
“Soybean meal is the leading protein source in animal feed worldwide, used extensively in poultry, cattle, and aquaculture,” she said.
In January 2025 alone, MGI processed 68,000 tonnes of soybean meal and 48,000 tonnes of oil — mostly from US-origin soybeans.
“With protein-energy malnutrition still a challenge in Bangladesh, Soy Month can contribute to improving national nutrition and public health,” she added.
Khabibur Rahman Kanchan, USSEC team lead for Bangladesh, noted that global soybean production stands at roughly 397–399 million tonnes annually, with the US contributing 28%–30% (113–118.8 million tonnes).
He emphasised US soy’s reputation for quality, consistency, and sustainability, and discussed USSEC’s international efforts to promote soy through campaigns like “Soy Month” and the “Right to Protein” movement.