Sri Lanka’s poultry industry has received significant international recognition after several leading producers and feed millers were honoured as global sustainability leaders at Soy Connext 2026, the flagship summit of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), held from 5 to 7 August at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
The recognition represents a proud moment for Sri Lankan agribusiness, demonstrating how local companies are strengthening their supply chains, improving transparency in animal nutrition and aligning commercial performance with measurable environmental responsibility. It also places Sri Lanka at the forefront of a rapidly developing conversation about sustainable food production, responsible sourcing and the future of global protein supply.
Sri Lanka’s poultry sector takes the global stage
Soy Connext 2026 attracted more than 800 delegates, making it the largest gathering in the summit’s history. International buyers, exporters, agricultural specialists, business leaders and sustainability advocates assembled in Chicago to examine global market trends, supply-chain resilience and the growing importance of responsible agricultural production.
Against this broad international backdrop, Sri Lanka’s poultry sector achieved a particularly strong showing. Several Sri Lankan producers and feed millers were recognised for their use of the Sustainable U.S. Soy and Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy labels, which provide consumers and commercial partners with visible assurance that the soybean meal incorporated into animal feed has been sourced through verified sustainability systems.
The acknowledgement was especially meaningful because Sri Lanka was the world’s largest market for containerised U.S. soybean meal in 2025. The country imported approximately 255,000 tonnes during the year, reinforcing the strategic importance of the Sri Lankan poultry and animal-feed industries within the international soybean market.
Sixteen companies committed to verified sustainability
Sixteen Sri Lankan poultry producers and feed millers currently hold licences to use the Sustainable U.S. Soy and Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy labels. Their participation indicates that sustainable sourcing is becoming an industry-wide consideration rather than an isolated initiative pursued by only a small number of businesses.
The labels are verified under the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol, commonly known as SSAP, a system designed to support traceability and demonstrate responsible environmental and social performance across the soybean supply chain. The framework addresses areas including soil conservation, biodiversity, water management and responsible agricultural practices, thereby enabling buyers to make more informed decisions about the origins of feed ingredients.
For poultry producers, this form of verification serves several purposes. It strengthens confidence among customers, supports more transparent business-to-business relationships and enables companies to communicate their sustainability credentials in a clear and consistent manner. In an increasingly discerning marketplace, such assurances can become an important point of differentiation.
New Anthoney’s Farms was the first company in the South Asia region to secure a licence for the label in 2023. Its early commitment established an important precedent for Sri Lankan agriculture and provided a practical example of how responsible sourcing can be integrated into a commercially successful poultry operation.
The company’s achievement also helped demonstrate that sustainability need not remain an abstract corporate objective. Instead, it can be incorporated into procurement, production, labelling and consumer communication, creating value across the entire supply chain.
Sustainability and profitability as complementary goals
Sri Lankan representatives participated in a sustainability panel at Soy Connext 2026, where the central message was that sustainability and profitability should not be treated as competing objectives.
This principle is particularly relevant to the poultry industry, where feed quality, operational efficiency and supply-chain security directly affect business performance. Reliable access to high-quality soybean meal supports the production of nutritious animal feed, while verified sourcing practices can improve corporate credibility and assist businesses in responding to changing expectations among consumers, retailers and international partners.
The Sustainable U.S. Soy label also provides a practical method for communicating these efforts. Rather than relying solely on broad claims about environmental responsibility, participating producers can point to an established verification framework, making their sustainability commitments more tangible and accessible.
This approach is instrumental in a sector that must balance the requirements of food safety, animal welfare, affordability, productivity and environmental stewardship. Sri Lanka’s poultry producers have shown that commercial growth can be pursued alongside a more responsible approach to sourcing and production.
The wider implications are substantial. As demand for protein increases across Asia and other emerging markets, poultry producers will be expected to supply nutritious food efficiently while also addressing concerns related to land use, resource consumption, emissions and supply-chain accountability. Sri Lankan companies that establish credible systems today will be better positioned to respond to those expectations in the years ahead.
Institutional cooperation strengthens the sector
The recognition at Soy Connext builds upon a period of increasing cooperation between Sri Lanka’s animal-nutrition sector and USSEC.
In May 2026, the Sri Lanka Association of Animal Nutrition, known as SLAAN, was formally launched in Kandy in partnership with USSEC. The association provides a dedicated professional platform for nutritionists, feed scientists and industry specialists, with the potential to encourage knowledge-sharing, technical development and improved standards across the animal-feed sector.
The creation of SLAAN is significant because sustainable poultry production depends upon more than the selection of a single feed ingredient. It requires professional expertise, sound formulation practices, research, quality control and continued engagement between producers, technical specialists and international partners.
With Sri Lanka’s animal-feed industry now producing close to 1.3 million metric tonnes annually, and poultry representing its largest customer, the need for a coordinated and technically informed sector has become increasingly evident. The development of professional institutions such as SLAAN can support the industry’s long-term resilience while encouraging the adoption of efficient and responsible methods.
A proud achievement for Sri Lankan agribusiness
The Sri Lankan delegation’s participation in Soy Connext 2026 was supported in part by Mark and Comm, the Colombo-based public relations and communications agency, which worked closely with USSEC on messaging surrounding Sri Lanka’s soybean and poultry sectors. Mark and Comm attended the summit as a media delegate and was present during the recognition of Sri Lankan companies.
The agency’s involvement helped convey the significance of Sri Lanka’s achievements to an international audience, highlighting the country’s role not merely as a major importer of soybean meal, but as a market where sustainable sourcing is being translated into practical business action.
For Sri Lankan agribusiness, the recognition is a valuable opportunity to promote the capabilities of local producers and feed millers, many of whom operate in a highly competitive regional environment. It shows that Sri Lankan companies are capable of meeting international expectations while maintaining a strong focus on domestic food production and consumer needs.
The achievement also carries relevance for Sri Lankans living overseas, who continue to take pride in the country’s accomplishments across agriculture, business, education, science and technology. Stories such as this demonstrate the breadth of Sri Lankan enterprise and the contribution being made by local companies to global conversations.
Looking towards a more sustainable food future
Soy Connext 2026 concluded with Sri Lanka’s position as the world’s largest containerised buyer of U.S. soybean meal firmly established, while the adoption of sustainability labels provided a further indication of the country’s growing influence within the international poultry sector.
The progress made by Sri Lankan producers and feed millers offers an encouraging model for other agricultural industries. It shows that responsible sourcing can be linked with productivity, market access and brand value, provided that sustainability commitments are supported by credible verification and consistent implementation.
As global demand for animal protein continues to rise, Sri Lanka’s poultry industry has an opportunity to build upon this momentum through further investment in technology, professional training, traceable supply chains and resource-efficient production. The foundation has already been strengthened through the participation of sixteen licensed companies, the pioneering example established by New Anthoney’s Farms and the formation of SLAAN.
The honours received at Soy Connext 2026 therefore represent more than a ceremonial achievement. They are an affirmation of Sri Lanka’s emerging leadership in sustainable poultry production and a clear indication that the country’s agricultural businesses can compete, innovate and contribute meaningfully on the global stage.
For more positive stories about Sri Lankan business, achievement and community progress, readers can explore the eLanka News and Articles section and the eLanka Business Directory.
Source: http://colombogazette.com/
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