Released January 30, 2009
URBANA, Ill. -- More than 100 government officials, private industry representatives and other entities gathered at the Karibe Convention Center in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, for a seminar on Processing and Utilization of Soybeans for Meat and Dairy Applications. This seminar, conducted by the National Soybean Research Laboratory (NSRL) and funded by Illinois soybean checkoff dollars, teaches attendees how to incorporate soy protein into local diets, part of international marketing efforts facilitated through the laboratory.
Participants learned exciting possibilities in producing soy-enhanced hot dogs, sausages, cookies, soymilk and biscuits, while exploring innovative applications that incorporate soy. Participants also received information about the use of soy protein in baking applications.
Bridget Owen, associate director of NSRL and Karl Weingartner, director of INTSOY at the University of Illinois, led the seminar in Haiti. The seminar introduced processing and utilization techniques along with best practices that use soybeans as a meat extender and value-added ingredient. The soy will be integrated into local recipes and developed into new foods that provide an excellent source of protein.
"This was an excellent opportunity for NSRL to provide nutrition support and soybean processing expertise to a country facing extreme challenges of malnutrition and chronic disease," says Owen. "On behalf of the University of Illinois, we will continue to focus on developing sustainable solutions and enduring value chain development for Haiti."
While in Haiti, Owen, Weingartner and Jim Hershey, Executive Director of the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), participated in meetings with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The World Food Program (WFP) and U.S. Embassy Economic Officers to ascertain opportunities for soy to be used as an integral ingredient providing a complete, high quality protein source to the people of Haiti.
Since 2004, food prices in Haiti have increased almost 20 percent causing a rise in the number of Haitians who go hungry. Haiti produces 45 percent of the food it needs annually, but severe weather events, including hurricanes and floods, have devastated much of Haiti's agricultural harvest in recent years.
Haiti, a country of 8.5 million people, has struggled with poverty, political unrest and natural disasters. It is considered the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The per capita annual income is less than $400 and 80 percent of the population lives in poverty. Haiti has long battled malnutrition. 23 percent of Haitian children face malnutrition, and that number is trending upward as food prices increase and agricultural production faces financial crisis.
The National Soybean Research Laboratory is located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. NSRL leads the way in exploring the genetics of soybeans, responding to marketplace challenges and assisting in expanding the scope, size and profitability of the U.S. soybean industry. By developing and implementing strategic research, education and outreach programs, NSRL aims to serve the needs of soybean producers, processors and consumers in the areas of soybean production, nutrition and international development. Contact NSRL at 217-244-1706, or visit http://www.nsrl.uiuc.edu
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http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4648.html
Contacts: Melinda Anderson, (217) 244-7384, melindaa@uiuc.edu
Gary Beaumont, (217) 333-9440, beaumont@uiuc.edu
