Grainnet

Bloomington, IL—Soyfoods training, including a farm visit, couldn’t be more timely.

Representatives of international organizations and businesses who want to learn about soy’s role in developing country diets will be in Illinois next week to participate in the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) 2009 Midwest Soy Protein Workshop scheduled for October 6 - 9.

The knowledge and contacts they gain can play an important role in countering sobering new statistics that one in six people in the world today is malnourished.

The potential for soy use has attracted attendees who lead nutritional campaigns and launch new food products in diverse countries ranging from Honduras to Bangladesh to South Africa.

Bismarck, IL soybean growers Mike and Kelly Cunningham will host a farm tour on Tuesday, October 6, for participants in the WISHH Midwest Workshop.

The National Soybean Research Laboratory (NSRL) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign will provide information on soy’s health benefits, demonstrate equipment to process soybeans, and allow participants to get hands-on-experience cooking soyfoods in the NSRL test kitchen.

“The continued popularity of the WISHH Midwest Workshop shows the enormous potential for Illinois soybeans to be part of the solution to meet the protein needs of a growing global population,” said Mike Cunningham, who serves as Illinois Soybean Association vice chairman.

“Experts predict that the world must double its food production by 2050. Soy is well suited to meet the immediate needs for food and nutrition and will have an even greater role in the future.”

Sponsors for the Workshop are: Cargill--gold level; Solae—silver level; Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Monsanto and the Monsanto Fund—bronze level.

Qualified State Soybean Boards from across the country also support the program.

“Soyfoods industry leaders are important participants in the WISHH Midwest Workshop as well,” said WISHH Executive Director Jim Hershey.

“WISHH is pleased to help foster partnerships for use of Illinois soybeans that offer so many nutritional benefits.”

Soy protein is more important than ever as world hunger is projected to reach an historic high in 2009 with 1.02 billion people going hungry every day, according to recent estimates published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

The WISHH Midwest Workshop is also timely since it precedes World Food Day, held each October 16 to draw attention to the importance of conquering malnutrition.

For more information, call 309-663-7692.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Illinois Soybean Assn.

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