WISHH News

WISHH Helps Convene Business Briefing with Head of World's Largest Food Assistance Organization

The World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program hosted the head of the world’s largest food and nutrition program on April 16 in Chicago. In cooperation with the Illinois Soybean Association, WISHH convened a business briefing with World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director James T. Morris who leads WFP, which fed 77 million people in 82 countries last year at a total cost of (U.S.) $1.74 billion. The event also featured the Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies African Program Stephen Morrison along with WISHH HIV/AIDS Nutrition Adviser Cade Fields-Gardner.

World Food Programme Executive Director James T. Morris with Soybean Farm Leaders

Attendees included soybean growers, agribusiness leaders, media, Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) and staff for Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL). Morris presented the challenges his organization faces in Iraq where virtually 100 percent of the population got most of their food from the government. Now WFP is the lead agency in trying to feed 27 million people at 44,000 different points of distribution. Although the challenge to help Iraq’s people is daunting, Morris used the speech to bring attention to nutrition in the battle against HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. “Iraq is a very wealthy country. And hopefully the wealth will soon be used in such a way that Iraq can take care of itself. …When you look at the issues in Africa you sort of ask yourself why isn’t there a comparable outrage with conditions in Africa.”

200 million Africans are poorly nourished. In some countries 40 percent of adults have HIV/AIDS. “Seven million people who work in agriculture in this part of the world have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. And over the next 15 years it will be twice that many,” said Morris. “The impact on families, on culture, on agriculture productivity is enormous… I can hardly get it out of my mind what this has done to children. Eleven million children in sub-Saharan Africa are orphaned because mom and/or dad have died of HIV/AIDS.”

American Soybean Association (ASA) President Dwain Ford and United Soybean Board International Marketing Committee Chairman Criss Davis also spoke at the event. “Today’s dialogue will let us explore ways to help meet the immediate needs of populations fighting HIV/AIDS, as well as identify how to better assist the development of sustainable nutrition for the long-term,” said Ford.

Davis told the agribusiness leaders and media at the event that, “Our hearts for humanity coupled with our heads for business must drive our response to HIV/AIDS. Soybean growers launched the WISHH Program in 2000 because we care about the people who don’t have enough food right now, and because we recognize that the developing countries of today are tomorrow’s customers of U.S. soy.”

The spread of HIV/AIDs around the world was a key message from another breakfast speaker, Stephen Morrison, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies African Program. Morrison described the “second wave” of HIV/AIDS that is rapidly reaching, China, Russia and other countries. WISHH HIV/AIDS Nutrition Advisor Cade Fields-Gardner presented the group with the research information on soy’s role in helping people with HIV/AIDS.

Update on WISHH Work in Africa

WISHH leverages checkoff dollars by providing technical assistance to several groups that are already fighting hunger and HIV/AIDS in Africa. WISHH consultants Karl Weingartner of the National Soybean Research Laboratory in Illinois and Brian Harrigan of Malnutrition Matters recently returned from Africa. WISHH Nutrition Adviser Cade Fields-Gardner is in Africa in late April and early May.

In March, Weingartner worked with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Kenya to determine the suitability of three soy protein products--defatted soy flour, textured soy protein (TSP) and textured soy concentrate--for use as ingredients to prepare food in “wet” school feeding programs. Under Weingartner’s supervision, CRS cooks prepared porridge, ugali (a maize-based staple food), and stew with the soy protein products. The products were given to 30 toddlers, 440 children, and 40 adults, including 25 mothers. The cooks reported that they felt confident in using soy in Kenyan foods. The recipients found the foods appetizing, particularly the stews prepared with the two textured soy products. As a result, CRS and WISHH are establishing a memorandum of understanding to work together with soy products in Kenya.

In the last 18 months, Malnutrition Matters has helped install eight soy-processing units, commonly called “SoyCows” in five African countries for private voluntary organization, Africare. Harrigan’s April 2003 trip allowed him to assist Africare with the installation and training of two more SoyCows, one in Zimbabwe and one in South Africa. The training sessions emphasized marketing and sales aspects of operating the SoyCow as a business, which is critical to ensure that units are successful in providing sustainable nutrition and jobs. Harrigan also helped introduce a new soy product, sour soymilk, and it was one of the most popular soymilk-derived products. While in Africa, Harrigan also met with CRS staff in Zimbabwe, who have expressed interest in using SoyCows. He also met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture staff in Johannesburg and others in South Africa who have expressed interest in soymilk.