World Soy Foundation At Work
May 2010
Thanks to our many supporters, the World Soy Foundation is bringing nutrition to life in developing countries around the globe.
Corporate Social Responsibility Conference Serves as Catalyst for Doing Good with Soy in Central America
More than 90 people from Central America and the United States joined the World Soy Foundation for the first in a three-year series of World Soy Foundation (WSF) nutrition seminars featuring soy applications in Corporate Social Responsibility Programs. The Cargill-supported event sparked ideas and potential partnerships.
Held in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on February 24-25, the "Nutrition Solutions for Central America" conference drew more than 90 attendees from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua as well as the United States. Presenters included World Soy Foundation corporate partners, Cargill and FundahRSE, government officials, non-governmental organizations, CARE, as well as representatives of both local companies and multinational corporations.
The second day of the conference allowed participants to see soy projects that are already underway in Honduras. The Padre Peris Feeding Center hosted attendees to allow them to see a SoyCow program that was made possible by the local Usula Rotary Club and the World Soy Foundation.
Lilliana Barahona, who represents Cargill’s Corporate Social Responsibility program in Central America, has assisted day cares and other institutions in improving the diets for children in Central America. Attendees at the World Soy Foundation nutrition conference were able to visit the facility and see the results with soy. The day care center director reported that the children had enjoyed the meals and that the staff and parents had been delighted at the growth improvements seen in the children. Padre Peris Feeding Center SoyCow produces soy milk and okara, a protein/fiber co-product of the milk production. The Center uses the foods in the daily meals provided to the neighborhood children, many of which rely on the center for their only meal.
The group then visited Guaderia Numero Cuatro. The children at this day care center received soy-enhanced meals during 2009 as part of a World Soy Foundation-funded initiative implemented by the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health and National Soybean Research Laboratory. The day care center director reported that the children had enjoyed the meals and that the staff and parents had been delighted at the growth improvements seen in the children. Guaderia Numero Cuatro continues to provide healthy, balanced meals to the children in their care. Staff are knowledgeable about soy’s benefits in health and nutrition as well as how to incorporate soy into the center’s meals.
After the visit to the day care, the group traveled to Casa Aurora, a local non governmental organization that assists families living with HIV/AIDS. Read our Partner Profile in the next story to learn how Casa Aurora is improving diets and incomes.
The final visit of the day was to the Siboney Colonial School. Cargill Volunteer Brigades have worked closely with the school staff and parents to build new classrooms and a beautiful new kitchen and serving area. Cargill volunteers have had great impact with the projects they support in their neighborhoods.
The completion of the conference was marked with a roundtable discussion where participants met and discussed opportunities to work together in future efforts to address the nutritional challenges of the region.
Partner Spotlight: Casa Aurora Uses Soy to Improve Diets and Incomes for HIV-Affected
Casa Aurora members first learned to add soy to their own delicious recipes. Now they are making money by marketing small packages of textured soy protein to help others in their community have better diets too. Honduran women have a new way to make money for their HIV-affected families now that they are trained on how to add soy to their recipes. The World Soy Foundation supports work with Casa Aurora, a local Honduran nongovernmental organization that assists families living with HIV/AIDS.
The National Soybean Research Laboratory team provided training to Casa Aurora in 2008. Participants learned about the nutritional value of soy protein as well as how to cook with soy in local Honduran recipes. The ladies at Casa Aurora were quick and creative students on how to incorporate soy into their own delicious recipes. The World Soy Foundation, along with program partners the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health and National Soybean Research Laboratory returned to Casa Aurora in 2009 to develop a microenterprise program with soy. The Casa Aurora team is now marketing small packages of textured soy protein (TSP) in their community. This income-generating activity has already achieved successful sales and continues to grow.
Soy Flour Arrives to Support Humanitarian Work in Afghanistan
World Soy Foundation Board Member, Natural Products, Inc donated a container of soy flour to the World Soy Foundation. The product has arrived to support the Nutrition and Education International Inc.’s (NEI) humanitarian work in Afghanistan. NEI uses soy flour to feed refugees and many others in Afghanistan, a country that has some of the worst health statistics in the world. According to UNICEF, 39 percent of all children under 5 years of age are moderately or severely underweight.
Soy protein can make a rapid difference in the health and even playfulness of children in Afghanistan, according to Dr. Steven Kwon, a nutrition scientist, who founded Nutrition and Education International. Iowa-based Natural Products, Inc. donated a container of soy flour through the World Soy Foundation to support NEI’s work in Afghanistan. See more photos of World Soy Foundation work in Afghanistan
New World Soy Foundation Executive Director Sees Abundant Opportunities
The new Executive Director has set a fast pace out of the starting blocks at the World Soy Foundation. Since his start on January 4, 2010, Nathan Ruby has made 12 trips that led him through three blizzards to make contacts from Minnesota to California to North Carolina. He also traveled oversees to meet with existing and potential supporters and partners.
World Soy Foundation Executive Director Nathan Ruby saw the benefits of soy in the lives of Latin American foster children who are nourished with soy. Ruby has attended major industry events, such as Commodity Classic, Soyfoods Association of North America meetings and the Corporate Social Responsibility conference in Honduras. He has talked to numerous reporters and others to increase awareness of the Foundation and its results. Ruby also met with diverse businesses, foundations and individuals who increasingly recognize the opportunity to do good with soy.
"The warm welcome to the World Soy Foundation gives me great optimism that we can forge even more successful partnerships to nourish thousands of children and adults with soy," said Ruby. "Seeing children who feel like running and playing thanks to soy nutrition is a powerful fuel to drive our efforts. I hope many more of our supporters will travel with us to share this experience in the near future."
As WSF Executive Director, Ruby leads WSF’s work to develop sustainable solutions to build healthy, thriving communities worldwide. He directs the organization’s fundraising and development plans, administrative operations, including fiscal management, and public relations efforts. Ruby previously served as the major gifts manager for the Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation based in Rockford, Illinois. From 2003-2006, he was the associate director for planned giving at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Foundation in Chicago.
Planting Prompts Soybean Growers to Commit Their Crop to Nourishing Children
Farmers from across the nation are donating the value of an acre of soybeans through the World Soy Foundation. One acre of soybeans, approximately 42 bushels, can be used to make over 2,500 gallons of soymilk or more than 40,000 eight ounce servings.As soybean growers put seeds in the ground this spring, they are also taking action to ensure their crop nourishes hungry children. Farmers are giving the value of an acre of soybeans to the World Soy Foundation’s Acre Challenge.
The process is simple even though many of the children are thousands of miles away in developing countries. Contributions are tax deductible and can be made online.
“The World Soy Foundation makes it easy to do the right thing with our soybeans,” said soybean farmers during a recent conference call of the farmers who serve as state friends of the Acre Challenge. The farmers are working to increase support for the effort in their respective states.
How the Acre Challenge Can Make a Difference
One in six people in the world today is malnourished. Soy is an important part of the solution to global malnutrition since it offers much-needed protein and other nutrition.
The cash equivalent of an acre of soybeans can do go a long way…
- One acre of soybeans, approximately 42 bushels, can be used to make over 2,500 gallons of soymilk or more than 40,000 eight ounce servings.
- One acre of soybeans provides approximately 18,000 rations of soy protein.
- One bushel of soybeans provides a significant boost of protein for 20 undernourished children for a month.
Farmer support is vital to the World Soy Foundation’s work to partner with industry, hunger and development groups, foundations and more.
Examples of Where and How the World Soy Foundation Nourishes Hungry Children
Afghanistan—The World Soy Foundation’s partners have donated soy flour that arrived in Afghanistan earlier this year. Farmer support of the Acre Challenge can help make sure more refugee children can get nutritious soy milk and breads made with soy flour.
Guatemala—Soy protein is helping Guatemalan foster children feel like running and playing thanks to farmer support of the World Soy Foundation. We have partnered with a Guatemalan charity and other groups to provide much-needed protein to these girls produced by a unique soy processing machine, called a SoyCow.
Haiti—The World Soy Foundation is working with multiple partners to raise funds that will establish a soy dairy training center in Haiti and other efforts to help Haiti become self sufficient.
Questions and Answers about the Acre Challenge
Q. Can I make my Acre Challenge contribution at my local grain elevator?
A. Yes. Soybean farmers can make their donation at the grain elevator by asking their elevator representatives to contact the World Soy Foundation Toll-free: 800-688-7692 ext. 1358. World Soy Foundation staff will then work with elevator representatives to provide the donor farmer with the documentation of the value of the charitable donation. The donor farmer can then submit this document to the Internal Revenue Service. What the World Soy Foundation does NOT do is take the farmer’s actual grain: transportation and logistics of grain handling is prohibitive. Learn more....
Q: How did the World Soy Foundation Acre Challenge Campaign Start?
A: A soybean farmer, Jim Peterson of Indiana, created the Acre Challenge in 2007. Based on that launch, the WSF Acre Challenge was a success in 2008 when individuals of the entire Board of the Iowa Soybean Association pledged an acre of soybeans each for a total of 21 acres that year. Farmers from Indiana and North Carolina also pledged acres. Please join the other farmers who have already committed to being part of the solution by donating the value of an acre of soybeans to the World Soy Foundation. The World Soy Foundation is headquartered at the American Soybean Association.
Q: How many people are hungry in the world?
A: Soy protein is more important than ever as world hunger reached an historic high in 2009 with 1.02 billion people going hungry every day, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Q: How can soy help people with HIV/AIDS?
A: More than 33 million people worldwide are living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Soy is ideally suited to help meet the requirements for protein, calories and micronutrients that they experience. Furthermore, more than 15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Soy protein can help people living with HIV lead productive jobs and be able to care for their families as well as feed orphans.
Go-getter Iowa Teen Raises More than $2000 with Inventive Dinner
Between high school sports and classes AND preparing for college exams, Iowa teen Schyler Bardole pulled off two innovative dinners to benefit the World Soy Foundation. The more than $2375 he has raised for the World Soy Foundation has whetted his appetite to do more.
Schyler named the project Relieving Undernourishment with Soy in Haiti (RUSH). "When Haiti suffered from the 7.0 earthquake, I heard about all the food being sent for relief," Schyler says. "I then thought to myself, food can only be eaten once so sending food is only a quick fix to a big problem. Sending either of these machines can continually provide a protein source that could save lives. This would be a possible solution to a big problem."
Schyler Bardole presented his goal of providing a SoyCow or VitaGoat to help people in Haiti at the fundraisers he organized in March and May.He worked through his hometown church youth group in Rippey, Iowa to host a spaghetti dinner. Posters and church announcements served as advertising. The March 21 dinner attracted 48 people and raised more than $1000. The youth group treated guests as if they were at a nice restaurant. Everyone ordered off menus with foods that varied from lobster to duck to spaghetti. No matter what they ordered, the guests received a spaghetti meal. They paid the price of the entrée they ordered, with the difference being their donation to the World Soy Foundation.
Schyler made a presentation about his goal of providing a SoyCow or VitaGoat soyfood processing machine to help people in Haiti. Grandfather Roy Bardole, who is the World Soy Foundation Chairman, helped field questions on the technology as well as training needed to support it.
The May 8 event allowed guests to order from a menu with prices ranging from $100 chimichangas to $15 fajitas and $5 tacos. Everyone received tortilla soup, an opportunity to eat at the taco bar, Mexican Wedding Cake and a drink. The checks are still coming in and Schyler is thinking about how to take his fundraising to the next level.
Northern Food Grade Soybean Association Will Help Feed Hundreds with Soy
The eight member companies of the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association have raised their own commitment to helping fight global malnutrition. During the Northern Soybean Expo in Fargo on February 16, they pledged $1000 to the World Soy Foundation Acre Challenge. The association also agreed to donate a shipping container of soybeans for Haiti and another container for a yet-to-be assigned project.
"The Northern Food Grade Soybean Association’s support of the Acre Challenge will allow the World Soy Foundation to feed hundreds of malnourished kids with soy protein," said Executive Director Nathan Ruby who came to North Dakota for the Expo. "This contribution is a significant complement to the support of individual North Dakota farmers who are donating the value of an acre of soybeans to the World Soy Foundation Acre Challenge."
The Northern Food Grade Soybean Association contributors are Brushvale Seed Inc. of Breckenridge, MN; Dakota Pride Cooperative, Jamestown, ND Richland Organics of Breckenridge, MN; Red River Valley Seed Company of Hillsboro, ND; SK Food International of Fargo; SB & B Foods Inc. of Casselton, ND; SunOpta Grains and Food Group of Moorhead, MN and Unity Seed of Casselton, ND.
The Northern Food Grade Soybean Association’s new Acre Challenge commitment builds on their past contribution of 20.4 metric tons of their product through the World Soy Foundation. That partnership with the Guatemala City Metropoli Rotary Club helped feed thousands of children.
"I just returned from Guatemala where I met children who benefited from the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association’s soybeans," said Ruby."“Soy protein is making a lasting difference in children’s lives. With proper nutrition, they can build strong minds and bodies."
The Northern Food Grade Soybean Association is also coordinating with the World Soy Foundation on future contributions to provide soybeans to the hungry in Haiti and other locations where soy protein is so needed.
Nebraska Soybean Farmers Meet Guatemalan Children Who Are Nourished by Nebraska Support of World Soy Foundation
Nearly 2000 miles from Saunders County, Nebraska, soy protein is helping Guatemalan foster children feel like running and playing. Nebraskans have made a difference for these girls through the World Soy Foundation, and a unique soy processing machine, called a SoyCow.
Nebraska soybean growers, Mark Caspers, Dennis Fujan and Bill Kremlacek, as well as Keith Glewen, University of Nebraska Extension Educator located in Saunders County traveled with the World Soy Foundation in January. The trip allowed them to meet the children and see how soy can make a lasting difference.
"The World Soy Foundation applauds the leadership of Nebraska soybean growers and their organizations that made it possible for the World Soy Foundation to work with our partners in Guatemala," said World Soy Foundation Executive Director Nathan Ruby. "Thanks to these combined efforts, the girls receive soyfoods to improve their diets and much more. They are also getting nutrition training. Older girls are learning business skills through the sales and marketing of the extra foods produced by the SoyCow."
Nebraska farmers met the children who are benefiting from Nebraska’s support of the World Soy Foundation. Saunders County soybean growers raised nearly $8,000, primarily from individual farmer contributions, topurchase and install a SoyCow. Nebraska Soybean Association President Debbie Borg helped kick start their campaign with a $200 check to the World Soy Foundation. The Nebraska Soybean Checkoff Board contributed more than $6,000 in the form of a shipment of soybeans to Guatemala, as well as provided airfare for grower leaders to visit the project and see other soy-related efforts in Guatemala.
These Nebraskans aided the World Soy Foundation in work with the Fundaninas nonprofit in Guatemala to get the soy protein program running in 2009. A Guatemalan-based charity Fundacion Juan Bautista Gutierrez also contributed $2500.
"The Guatemalan economy is predominately of a subsistence nature, but being able to properly nourish the children will provide the next generation with the good minds and strong bodies needed to broaden the country's economic base," says Caspers of Auburn.
"We were looking for something that will help the children’s health and well being," says Fujan of Prague. "This trip gave us a handle on what soy protein can do for them. You see kids running around having a good time and enjoying life.'
Wahoo soybean farmer Bill Kremlacek calls the experience “eye-opening” and supports additional farmers being able to also go to Guatemala.'“Farmers like to look back on their day and see what they accomplished. This trip allowed us to see the results. It was like a receipt for our contribution.'
'This trip was the first time for me to witness the impact poverty has on diet and malnutrition" said Saunders County Extension Office Extension Educator Keith Glewen. "Many of us in the Midwest live in a bubble. I now have a better understanding of the complexity of addressing this problem. I also have a deeper appreciation for individuals, the corporate world and governments for their efforts to correct problems associated with malnutrition.'
While in the Central American country, the Nebraskans also saw projects that the World Soy Foundation is helping fund with CARE, Cargill, Rotary International and pediatric organizations.
Guatemala has the fourth highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world and the highest in Latin America, currently half of children under age 5. A drought is making malnutrition even more widespread in Guatemala this year, according to U.S. Embassy staff who briefed the farmers.
Nebraska soybean growers and their peers across the nation were instrumental in creation of the World Soy Foundation, a 501c3 charitable organization headquartered at the American Soybean Association.
A SoyCow is a processing system that can grind and cook whole soybeans into soymilk, from which beverages, soya "cheese" (tofu), yogurt and other soyfoods can be made. One pound of dry soybeans makes approximately one gallon of soymilk or yogurt. The World Soy Foundation has funded some of the work done by the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and the National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois in multiple developing countries that use the SoyCows to produce foods for orphanages and still have food available to sell, making the operations economically sustainable.
