The U.S. Grains Council, a U.S. Sustainability Alliance member, has changed its name to the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) to better reflect all the commodities it represents. Eleven years ago, the Council expanded its scope to include ethanol, which has become a key part of its identity in practice but not in name – until now.
CEO and President Ryan LeGrand said that the new name encompasses both the grains side and ethanol side of the organization, helping to create a single global powerhouse and unlock opportunities.
“This organizational name change will open doors previously closed to us – those in the energy space for which our ethanol team is diligently trying to gain access to, so we can spur sales in ways that we haven’t been able to in the past.”
The Council has undergone this process once before in its 65-year history. It was established in 1960 as the U.S. Feed Grains Council to develop new markets for U.S. coarse grains and their by-products. In 1998, it was renamed the U.S. Grains Council to better represent its broader remit. “We have paid special attention to choosing the right name without abandoning the 65 years of brand equity our members and our past leaders have worked so hard to create,” LeGrand said.