U.S. Agency for International Development Awards First Projects Containing High-Protein U.S. Soy Products in Food for Peace Program
Washington, D.C. - July 21, 2004…The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced its first approval of Food for Peace projects containing U.S. high-protein soy products. USAID has awarded a grant using textured soy protein (TSP) to Counterpart International for use in Senegal and another grant that will allow Africare to incorporate defatted soy flour into its efforts in Burkina Faso. Both Counterpart and Africare have worked with the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program to learn about U.S. high-protein soy and determine how it would benefit the people and communities they assist.
"WISHH is pleased to have aided the two groups that requested the high-protein soy products," said ASA First Vice President Bob Metz, a South Dakota soybean grower who participated in USAID’s Food for Peace 50th Anniversary event in Washington, D.C. today. "These new generation soy products have much to offer private voluntary organizations, like Africare and Counterpart, which are dedicated to fighting hunger, increasing incomes and improving the quality of life for people around the world."
Africare Food for Development Director S. Lee Thompson says, “Working with WISHH has been a fruitful partnership that has resulted in technical assistance to Africare’s programs.”
In response to Africare’s request to the USAID program, Africare will receive soy flour for its P.L. 480 Title II food security program in Burkina Faso. The soy flour will serve as a food supplement for people affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS and whose households have been rendered food insecure as a result of the disease. It will also be used as “Food for Work” as partial compensation for well construction. The nutrient-rich soy flour will provide needed energy for fighting disease and for building livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Counterpart is making plans to use the 394 metric tons of TSP over five years as well as 3,010 metric tons of wheat-soy milk to boost the nutrition offered to school children in Senegal. WISHH representatives helped train Counterpart employees and others in Senegal on how to use soy products to make many foods, such as sauces that complement bulgur, rice or bread. Medoune Diop, Counterpart’s Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) specialist in Senegal says that TSP is very easy to prepare, and it needs less fuel and time, which is key in areas where wood is scarce.
In 2002, the USAID approved five value-added soy protein products, defatted soy flour, TSP, soy protein concentrates, isolated soy protein and soy milk replacer, for use in Food for Peace programs. The decision was based on extensive nutritional information provided by WISHH, which followed up with private voluntary organizations to assist them in their proposals to USAID that could request the products. Similarly, WISHH has worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support use of high-protein products in its global food assistance programs.
“USAID’s approvals mark a significant recognition that high-protein soy has an important future in Food for Peace and other federal programs,” Metz said. “Food for Peace was vital after World War II, and it is just as important today. European and Asian countries that received assistance after World War II are vibrant economies and some of the best customers for U.S. soy today.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized the importance of food when the program was established under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. “Food can be a powerful instrument for all the free world in building a durable peace,” Eisenhower said.
Today, USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios said, “For 50 years, the Food for Peace program has brought hope and nourishment to the hungry corners of this earth. Approximately 3 billion people in 150 countries have benefited directly from our food. The secret of Food for Peace’s success lies in the unique combination of American compassion together with the unmatched efficiency of our nation’s farmers.”
In 2002, the USAID and USDA distributed approximately 397 million metric tons of soy products through food assistance programs. Soybean oil, corn-soy blend and other soy products have long served as staples in these programs. High-protein products have an important potential to help meet future needs since they pack so much nutrition into an easily digested form that can be incorporated into foods liked by children and adults from around the world. These products also have an important role to play in programs that assist people with HIV/AIDS since people with HIV/AIDS need 50-100 percent more protein.
ASA and a group of state soybean organizations launched the WISHH program in 2000, and today, numerous state soybean organizations support WISHH along with ASA and the United Soybean Board. Through WISHH, America’s soybean growers are building more bridges between America’s bounty and sustainable nutrition programs in countries where rapidly growing populations of all income levels can benefit from soy in their diets.
Contact: ASA First Vice President Bob Metz phone (605) 694-2652 or
WISHH Program Director Jim Hershey 1-800-688-7692
or WISHH consultant Karen Coble Edwards 703-281-7600
