CRA Newsletter | August 4, 2025
Our monthly newsletter highlights the work CRA and our members are doing to innovate, invest, and grow in the communities where we live and work. We invite you to explore our newsletter and learn more about CRA and our members.
CRA NEWS
CORN REFINERS COMMENT ON POTENTIAL PRODUCT REFORMULATIONS
Corn Refiners Association (CRA) President and CEO John Bode released a statement this month addressing reports of product reformulation consideration. “Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense,” Bode explained. “President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit. Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.”
NEW STUDY SHOWS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF CORN REFINING
This month, the Corn Refiners Association released a report detailing the critical nature of the corn refining industry and its work to support rural economies across the country. The report — an independent analysis commissioned by CRA — was published amid suggestions that foods should be considered Ultra-Processed based on the content of certain ingredients or use of production practices, a classification that fails to consider nutritional content.
CORN REFINERS WELCOME CALLAHAN NOMINATION FOR KEY USTR POST
Bode released a statement following President Donald Trump’s announcement of the nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan to serve as the next Chief Ag Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). “We are thrilled by Dr. Julie Callahan’s nomination to this important position,” said Bode. “Dr. Callahan will be critical to help the Trump Administration achieve its ambitious trade agenda. She has our enthusiastic support, and we urge the Senate to work quickly to confirm her nomination.”
CRA CALLS FOR CERTAINTY FOR KEY FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Following Senate passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Bode released a statement welcoming progress to support the nation’s farmers and ranchers and calling for bipartisan work to secure stability for the USDA BioPreferred Program. “As lawmakers continue their work on this package and other legislation in 2025, CRA stands ready to aid efforts to include an extension of USDA’s BioPreferred Program in a piece of legislation destined for President Trump’s desk,” he said. “This critical program supports farmers, rural communities, and domestic manufacturing jobs, and its continued success would be a tremendous benefit to the American economy.”
Read Bode’s full comments.
CORN REFINERS JOIN EFFORT URGING PROTECTION OF TOMATO SUSPENSION AGREEMENT
The Corn Refiners Association joined 30 other organizations in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick calling for the Administration to update — rather than terminate — the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement, which has protected food prices for U.S. consumers and maintained the strength of the interconnected North American market. “This is the wrong time to drive up U.S. consumer costs,” Bode said in a statement. “It is critical to our economies and regional food security that the governments of the United States, Mexico, and Canada support the flow of commerce and the integration of the North American market.”
Read the full press release.
MEMBER NEWS
PEPSICO AND CARGILL COLLABORATE TO EMPOWER FARMERS BY ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
PepsiCo and Cargill are planning to expand regenerative agriculture practices across 240,000 acres of Iowa farmland by 2030. The collaboration will focus on the companies’ shared corn supply chain in Iowa, where Cargill sources from local farmers to produce ingredients used in some of PepsiCo’s most iconic products. The Practical Farmers of Iowa will implement this collaboration locally, providing technical guidance and financial incentives to farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices.
Read more about the initiative.
ROQUETTE WELCOMES THIERRY FOURNIER AS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Earlier this month, Roquette welcomed Thierry Fournier as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. Thierry has an international background in engineering and brings a wealth of experience and innovative thinking to the organization.
Read more about Thierry Fournier.
ADM HOSTS PANCAKE COOKOFF TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY
At the ADM Cares Pancake Cookoff, teams whipped up their best stacks using ADM ingredients in support of Bigger Table, a nonprofit connecting the region’s food and beverage industry to address food insecurity.
Read more about the event.
KERNEL OF INNOVATION
DID YOU KNOW?
Fireworks use cornstarch to increase their burn time and to give them their explosive quality.
Learn more at Kernel of Innovation.