WISHH Ambassador
December 2009
Welcome to the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Ambassador! We hope that this newsletter provides you with useful information on the exciting world of soy nutrition.
WISHH Implements USDA Programs to Build Soy Markets in Nigeria and Kenya
WISHH is seeing significant growth opportunities in soy markets in Nigeria as well as Kenya. With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emerging Markets Program (EMP), WISHH began work in Nigeria two years ago. WISHH has led technical assistance to key food processors as well as organized conferences that convened multiple stakeholders.
This year brought the commercial launch of two new beverages using soy as well as a growing interest in soy for baked goods. Commercial sales of U.S. soy isolates in Nigeria have exceeded $1 million dollars.
USDA accepted WISHH’s Quality Samples Program proposal to provide soy product samples to Nigerian companies. This will create demand in two additional food sectors: baking and meat processing, further adding to market growth for U.S. soy in Nigeria. Similarly in Kenya, WISHH has implemented programs supported by USDA’s Global Broad-based Initiatives as well as the EMP since 2001. The first commercial sales started in 2006 and have increased annually.
WISHH Workshop Draw International Hunger Groups and Businesses
WISHH hosted representatives of international organizations and businesses who want to learn about soy’s role in developing country diets for the WISHH and World Soy Foundation 2009 Midwest Soy Protein Workshop held October 6-9. The potential for soy use attracted attendees who lead nutritional campaigns and launch new food products in diverse countries ranging from Honduras to Bangladesh to South Africa.
Illinois soybean growers Mike and Kelly Cunningham hosted a farm tour for Workshop participants. The National Soybean Research Laboratory (NSRL) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign provided information on soy’s health benefits, demonstrated equipment to process soybeans, and allowed participants to get hands-on-experience cooking soyfoods in the NSRL test kitchen.
Sponsors for the Workshop were: Cargill--gold level; Solae—silver level; Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), and Monsanto and the Monsanto Fund—bronze level. Qualified State Soybean Boards from across the country also supported the training program.
International participants always find the visit to a U.S. soybean farm is a highlight of the WISHH Midwest Workshop. Attendees also receive training with soyfoods processing equipment as well as discussed ways to use soy protein in a variety of programs.
Africare Requests More Defatted Soy Flour for Mothers and Children
 Women and children receiving foods made with the defatted soy flour are reporting improved weight gain and energy levels. Photo credit: Africare |
Children and mothers in participating in Africare’s nutrition support program in Burkina Faso are again getting better nutrition this fall from foods made with U.S. defatted soy flour. WISHH had worked with Africare, a leading private voluntary organization, as well as federal agencies that administer foreign assistance to introduce the product. As a result, the U.S. government purchased the first shipment of U.S. defatted soy flour under the Food for Peace Program in 2006.
Africare had requested the 150 metric tons for its project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in a rural province of Burkina Faso. WISHH then provided training on the products use in Africa. The positive results prompted Africare to continue to request the product. This summer USAID purchased 70 metric tons. The product arrived at the West African port of Lome in September. Africare plans to have it all distributed by December.
 Foods that are popular in Africa can easily incorporate the defatted soy flour to improve their nutritional content without changing the taste. Photo credit: Africare |
According to Africare, "The soy flour offers a very important assistance to malnourished children and their mothers as well as to those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The soy flour mixed with other food products provides a nourishing, high caloric and satisfying meal for Africare Burkina's beneficiaries. With the incorporation of the soy flour into its food security program, project workers have noticed the great impact that the soy flour porridge has made with the nutritional recuperation of malnourished children recipients. It is easy to swallow, light in taste and nutritious. The soy flour has had an equally important impact on the HIV/AIDS infected beneficiaries with their weight gain and energy level."
Soy Helps Feed Kids at School as it Helps Protect African Wildlife
A soy porridge is helping the Anne Kent Taylor Fund feed children and protect wildlife in Kenya. The Masai Mara, Kenya School Lunch Program is using defatted soy flour to feed more than 600 children in two schools.
Initiated in 2009, the school feeding program is supported by the National Soybean Research Laboratory and WISHH. Because children are getting meals at school, families have more incentive to send children to school and less need to support their families’ diets by hunting local wildlife. Based on the success of this pilot, organizers are eager to expand the effort to other communities.
 School children in Kenya were careful not to spill a drop of the soy milk that is part of a unique school feeding program that also benefits local wildlife protection efforts. Photo credit: Pat Dumoulin |
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WISHH Joins Business Council to End Global Hunger
WISHH is pleased to have joined the Business Council to End Global Hunger that was launched in September. The Friends of the World Food Program, Cargill and YUM! Brands lead the effort that allows companies and groups like WISHH to show their support for the Roadmap to End Global Hunger.
The Roadmap lays out a comprehensive strategy for the U.S. government to set the state for a permanent end to global hunger and poverty. "Joining the Business Council to End Global Hunger is an excellent opportunity to expand partnerships that can reduce malnutrition and improve the quality of life of people around the globe," said WISHH Executive Director Jim Hershey.
Sobering Statistics: Soy protein is more important than ever
One in six people in the world today are undernourished—more than ever before. World hunger is projected to reach a historic high in 2009 with 1.02 billion people going hungry every day, according to new estimates published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Click here to read more about how Soy is Part of the Solution.
WISHH is headquartered at the American Soybean Association in St. Louis. Since America’s soybean farmers founded WISHH in 2000, WISHH has worked in 28 countries to improve diets as well as encourage growth of food industries.
