The 7th edition of the Global Talks Series presents an inspiring conversation with Ms. Tori Sorensen, a globally respected advocate for sustainable agriculture, soybean processing, and animal nutrition education. This edition explores Tori Sorensen’s journey from her farm roots in Iowa to becoming a global voice in soy innovation and protein security. Through her leadership at Insta-Pro International and contributions with U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), she has helped advance feed processing technologies, sustainable animal nutrition, and global education initiatives across more than 100 countries. As former Chair of the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) Committee, Tori played a leading role in strengthening global training programs for feed manufacturing and agribusiness professionals, including the establishment of SEC India. Her work continues to inspire the poultry and livestock industries through innovation, education, and a strong commitment to global protein security.

Career Summary:
In a world where global food systems face sustainability and production challenges, Tori Sorensen has built a career focused on advancing global agriculture through education and communication in soybean processing and animal nutrition. As Marketing Director for Insta-Pro International, she has helped expand the company’s global presence by promoting sustainable feed processing solutions across international markets. Outside her position at Insta-Pro, Tori has become a thought leader and a staunch advocate for sustainable agriculture practices and education on soybean processing.

Early Career/Background:
Raised on a farm in southeast Iowa, agriculture and the value of hard work played a defining role in shaping Tori’s life and career. She experienced the realities of farm life first hand by detasseling corn, walking beans, helping with the family grain bin business, and learning to drive a tractor before she even learned to drive a car.
Like many farm families impacted by the 1980s farm crisis in the United States, her family faced significant hardship, including losing their farm and home at auction. Those experiences left a lasting impact and helped shape her perspective on resilience, opportunity, and education. Inspired by her father’s belief that “they can take everything from you, but they can’t take away your education.” Sorensen developed a deep passion for agricultural education and leadership development, which continues to influence her work in her global agriculture outreach today.

Marketing Director at Insta-Pro International:
As current Marketing Director for Insta-Pro International, Tori Sorensen has helped build global partnerships focused on soybean processing, feed efficiency, and animal nutrition education. Working with customers and distributors in more than 100 countries, for the last 12 years, she has supported international outreach efforts that promote high-shear dry extrusion technology and sustainable soy processing solutions for poultry, livestock, and feed production. Her role often combines technical education with relationship-building, helping connect feed producers and processors around the world with U.S. soy innovation and processing expertise.

Global Partnerships and Outreach:
Through her leadership at Insta-Pro International and former volunteer positions at USSEC, Tori has leveraged her expertise and resources to lead workshops, presentations, technical trainings, and international outreach programs focused on soybean processing and animal nutrition education. By combining Insta-Pro’s expertise in high-shear dry extrusion and feed processing with USSEC’s global education initiatives, she has helped connect producers, nutritionists, feed mills, and agribusiness leaders from across the globe with practical knowledge on feed efficiency, soybean meal quality, and sustainable protein production. Her work centers on creating collaborative learning opportunities that strengthen industry partnerships while advancing the understanding of U.S. soy technologies in global markets.

USSEC Leadership:

In addition to her role at Insta-Pro International, Tori has also served in several leadership positions with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), including Board of Directors (2019-2025) founding Chair of the SEC (Soy Excellence Center) Committee (2019-2025) and Co-Chair of the Animal and Aquaculture Utilization Team from 2017 to 2019. As Chair of the SEC she led the establishment and growth of the educational programs designed to train emerging leaders in feed manufacturing and agribusiness across the globe. The centers focus on advancing animal nutrition, supporting sustainable protein production, and strengthening international trust in U.S. soybean quality and processing technologies.

Spotlight on India & USSEC SEC
As Chairwoman, Tori led the SEC global presence, in four regions – Americas, Asia, MENA, and Sub-Saharan Africa with focused Centers in Thailand, Egypt, Nigeria, and established in 2024, India.

With 1.4 billion people strong and a rapidly growing economy, India is one of the worlds largest and most diversified food producers with agriculture contributing to over 20% of the economy. Challenged with a young workforce and unique market needs, the SEC program aligned with the Indian government’s focus on skills development for youth, making them ready for jobs under the ‘Skills India’ initiative.

In 2024; Tori, along with 14 Industry Leaders from India and the SEC Global Advisory Panel, held its inaugural meeting in Mumbai. This meeting provided guidance and direction on tailoring SEC offerings to solve key training challenges and operational hurdles in India’s food and agribusiness operations.

During her tenure as Chairwoman of the SEC, Tori led this transformative training program, preparing over 20,000 participants globally with the skills needed to be future-ready. Making her a strong advocate for global protein security through soy innovation and animal nutrition. A fitting legacy to her father’s belief in the importance, permanence and impact of education.

“Education is the most sustainable investment we can make for the future of global agriculture. When we empower people with knowledge, innovation, and opportunity, we strengthen food security and create a better future for generations to come.” 

— Tori Sorensen

On April 2, 2025, the Soy Excellence Center India held a special panel as part of its Governance meeting, focusing on young women leading change in the protein industry. The session featured a dynamic group of entrepreneurs and emerging leaders driving innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth across poultry, soy foods, and other sectors. Discussions ranged from workforce development to strategic leadership, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of food and protein production.

The young women commented on the following themes: Workforce skill development is crucial for the protein industry’s growth, driving innovation and efficiency across the sector. For individual organizations, it strengthens operations and enhances productivity. Encouraging gender balance brings diversity to this traditionally male-dominated field. Ongoing training initiatives help build capacity, while the new generation is bringing fresh perspectives, focusing on innovation, consumer needs, and modern approaches to industry challenges.

Malavika Siddharth, Nutritionist & Co founder, Hello Tempayy

Hello Tempayy leads the tempeh market in India, the UAE, and the U.S., with no direct competition—but the company remains committed to excellence. Producing tempeh at scale requires scientific precision and skilled handling. Their workforce undergoes intensive training in hygiene, production processes, post-production handling, and workplace safety. Malavika emphasizes the need to build protein awareness through outreach in schools, hospitals, and among medical professionals to promote better nutrition understanding.

Ashnni Rai, Data Analyst, Bharat Agrovet Industries

Ashnni highlights the dynamic nature of the poultry sector, which demands skilled workers across various roles—from production to marketing. Her company fosters workforce development through hands-on learning, mentoring, and participation in poultry exhibitions. Empowering employees increases confidence and problem-solving capabilities, improving efficiency. She is focused on innovation through sustainable practices and value-added products like ready-to-cook and antibiotic-free items to meet evolving consumer demands.

Anu Nallappa, Joint Manging Director in the making, Jagadish Poultry Farm

Anu praises her team’s skill and dedication, noting that even those without formal education have mastered critical procedures like artificial insemination. Their success stems from practical, visual training methods. To elevate productivity and worker growth, Anu advocates for structured and customized training programs, ideally accessible online. This approach would empower staff with enhanced confidence and long-term development.

Gaura Dubey, Director, Phoenix Group

With over five decades of industry experience, Gaura focuses on the need for continuous upskilling to remain competitive. While some long-standing employees resist change, ongoing R&D requires teams to evolve. New hires also need proper onboarding and training. She emphasizes that skill development is crucial for regulatory compliance, innovation, and optimal human resource use—essential for future readiness.

Meghal Singh, Founder & Visionary, Mommy’s Chicken

Meghal shares her entrepreneurial journey, which began in her kitchen in 2017. A trained and adaptive workforce has been key to her company’s growth—cutting operational costs, minimizing waste, and ensuring food safety. With AI being integrated across operations like inventory and CRM, her team has embraced technology to boost efficiency and customer satisfaction. She also emphasizes storytelling and digital engagement as tools for building consumer awareness and driving sustainable growth.

Nandini Rukmangadhan, Joint Managing Director, Surabhi Breeding Farms

Nandini believes workforce development is foundational to quality and operational excellence. She also highlights the need to restore gender balance in the poultry industry, where women once played a leading role. Diverse teams bring better decision-making and productivity. She envisions a future driven by technology—AI, automation, and sustainability—and calls on the industry to invest in inclusive training and innovation to stay ahead.