Iowa Spirit of Giving Sends Soy to Hungry in Zimbabwe
Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, Cargill and Rotarians
Team Up to Offer 200,000 Servings
December 2004 - URBANDALE, IOWA – More than 15,000 pounds of textured soy protein (TSP) is leaving Cedar Rapids this month and is bound for Zimbabwe in Southern Africa, where it will provide more than 200,000 servings of soy protein for orphans and special soy restaurants for the hungry. Cargill Food & Pharma Specialties-North America is donating the 20-foot shipping container of TSP while Rotary Clubs in Odebolt and Rockwell City, Iowa as well as their Rotary District and Rotary International raised more than $6,000 for the transportation costs. The opportunity to share the protein-rich soy with the needy in Zimbabwe stemmed from the Iowa Soybean Board’s support of the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program that works with organizations in Zimbabwe.
United Soybean Board Director from Iowa Curt Raasch and his Rotary Club colleagues helped orchestrate the Rotary involvement after learning about WISHH’s work with “Humana People to People” in Zimbabwe. Humana People to People is working to feed children and adults in Zimbabwe where 24.6 percent of the country’s 12.6 million people are HIV infected.
“Given soy’s nutritional benefits, including its value to those fighting HIV/AIDS, this donation was a prime opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives,” Raasch said. “We believe in soy, and we believe in helping. Thanks to Cargill Food & Pharma Specialities and Rotary, WISHH and Humana can put this soy protein to good use.”
 Humana People to People incorporates U.S. soy into the foods that it offers in Zimbabwe. |
Humana runs community feeding centers, supports school feeding and has even established facilities known as “soy restaurants.” The international assistance organization has long recognized the nutritional benefits of soy protein to people with HIV/AIDS. Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS often operate in tandem, with poor nutrition increasing the risk of disease progression, and the disease intensifying malnutrition. Numerous research findings show protein requirements of HIV/AIDS-infected people can jump 50-100 percent higher than for uninfected people. Soy protein is ideally suited to help meet their nutritional requirements for protein, calories and more.
WISHH is working with Cargill Food & Pharma Specialties-NA to manage the export shipping logistics. In addition, WISHH will provide follow-up technical support in Zimbabwe to help get the most out of the donation.
“As a part of Cargill’s mission to be the global leader in nourishing people, Cargill Food & Pharma Specialties is enthusiastic about the opportunity to help the people of Zimbabwe, and in particular to collaborate with so many different organizations in making good things happen in the world,” R. Creager Simpson, president of Cargill Food & Pharma Specialities-NA. “The gift of textured soy protein is part of an ongoing commitment Cargill has with WISHH, including more than $150,000 in cash donations since 2003. Cargill will continue to help nourish people around the world, as well as work with such committed partners as Rotary International, WISHH, and the Iowa Soybean Board,” Simpson added
The Iowa Soybean Board was one of the founding soybean grower organizations to launch the WISHH Program in 2000. WISHH was designed to find new opportunities for U.S. soy in programs that help feed the hungry as well as stimulate economies for long-term sustainable development. Two years ago, the U.S. government announced its first purchase of a high-protein soy product for an international program. In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2004, the federal government has purchased or made commitments to use more than $2 million of high-protein soy products.
Global statistics show that 24,000 people die of hunger each day; 18,000 of them will be children. “It is sobering to think that the daily loss of children is 50 times greater than the total number of kids in our home community’s school district,” said Raasch. “Soybean growers can be pleased that their contributions are increasing through new high-protein soy products, like textured soy protein. These high-protein products have great nutritional value, and are being well received in a wide range of countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and more.”
To learn more about WISHH call Karen Edwards at 703-281-7600.
Cargill, Inc., Cargill Food & Pharma Specialities, North America, based in Minneapolis, is part of Cargill’s Food System Design initiative in which Cargill businesses work with customers to produce ingredient solutions for affordable, nutritious, convenient and appetizing consumer products. Cargill F&PS is business unit of Cargill an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 101,000 employees in 59 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit www.cargill.com.
To learn more about Humana People to People go to www.humana.org
