PRESS RELEASE: Trade War and Policy Disruption Dominate Discussions at WIA Summit
- Michelle Pelletier Marshall
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
ORLANDO, October 9, 2025 – Taking center stage at the 14th annual Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit late last month in Orlando were conversations focused on the disruptive forces reshaping the future of U.S. agriculture.
With more than 700 attendees representing 42 U.S. states and 8 countries and over 200 companies in ag, the Summit kicked off with the stark reality of trade disruption in the sector. Always with a focus on presenting vital content for the ag sector, the WIA Summit did not shy away from addressing the critical issues faced by U.S. farmers and agribusinesses, as told through expert speakers and up-to-the-minute market data.
The first keynote, Karen Braun, chief market analyst with Zaner Ag Hedge, spoke on the state of U.S. agricultural commodity markets, with a focus on the lack of orders from China for U.S. soybeans. “Typically, by Sept. 11, China would buy about 30% of its annual purchases of U.S. soybeans and by the end of October, that number is usually at 60%.” Braun noted USDA data confirming that there are currently no soybean orders from China for the 2025-26 marketing year, a first in 26 years.
Keynote speaker Emily French, CEO of Global Ag Protein, echoed Braun’s concerns and cited a “red alert” in global ag trade due to geopolitical uncertainty that includes questionable trade negotiations and volatile government mandates and policy.
The Market Access and Trade Policy Panel, including speakers from the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, North American Export Grain Association and Society Rural Brazil, delved into the “what is” and “what ifs” of this global situation. Speakers addressed farmers facing low prices, lost orders and high production costs, noting the critical situation that the U.S. produces more agricultural products than it consumes, making export markets imperative. Sara Wyant, founder and publisher of Agri-Pulse and moderator of the panel, said “We are facing a very real farm crisis in our rural communities.”
Additional content at the WIA Summit provided key insights:
On Biologicals: Ag Innovations Panel moderator Pam Marrone, executive chair & co-founder of Invasive Species Corporation, said: "By 2040, biologicals are projected to grow at double digits while chemicals will only see single-digit growth. This shift is not just a trend; it's a transformation in how we approach agriculture."
On Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Panelist Yvonne Domeier, manager of sustainability consulting for Delta Air Lines, said: "Sustainable aviation fuel, especially aviation in general, is expected to continue to grow over the next 10 to 20 years. It's the single largest lever that aviation has to decarbonize." This panel highlighted the immense potential of SAF and the pivotal role farmers play in growing feedstocks that power this clean energy transition.
On customer trends and food preferences: Xinnan Li, VP, senior RaboResearch analyst at RaboBank, delved into the seismic shifts in consumer behavior impacting the food industry, highlighting the "bifurcation trend," revealing a growing divide between high earners and other income groups, driven by post-pandemic spending habits.
Learn more about the 2025 WIA Summit here, purchase session highlights and access to the Summit’s mobile app here, and mark your calendar for Summit 2026 in New Orleans, September 22-24 (get the special discounted rate until October 17).
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About Women in Agribusiness
Women in Agribusiness, an Arc company, is the foremost organization dedicated to leading the growth in global female agribusiness leadership. Its platform encourages collaboration for innovation and development through activities that “empower, connect and elevate” women in the ag sector. Its renowned annual Women in Agribusiness Summit serves as a vital platform for women to network with professionals across the agriculture value chain, build business relationships, learn from esteemed thought leaders and stay informed on key commercial topics in agribusiness.
Follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Visit www.womeninag.com for more info.
About Arc
Arc is a B2B events, data, and marketing services platform, backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital. Founded to redefine business networking, Arc organises over 150 events a year and operates critical content platforms in HR, agriculture and food, financial services and investing and education technology. Arc has over 450 talented colleagues located in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Singapore who focus on seeking out new ways to connect communities, wherever, whenever, or however people need to come together to grow their businesses.
For more information, visit www.arc-network.com or find Arc on LinkedIn.
PR CONTACT: Michelle Pelletier Marshall
Senior PR/Media Manager
Women in Agribusiness
+1.978.790.0565
