Doug Schroeder, soybean grower and Illinois Soybean Association Board member from Bellflower, Ill., is pictured here discussing equipment needs and modern farming practices with Charles Kyemereh, Deputy National Coordinator for the Ghana School Feeding Program. Charles and more than 80 participants from over a dozen countries came to the University of Illinois' National Soybean Research Laboratory to participate in the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health’s (ASA/WISHH) and the World Soy Foundation's Practical Implementation of Quality School Nutrition Programs.

The Workshop included targeted participants from Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), the World Food Programme, U.S. and local industry representatives and government officials to provide a forum for sharing innovative school nutrition practices and building links and partnerships between stakeholders within the sectors of government, nonprofit and commercial.

Some topics covered included how soy protein, especially textured soy flour, can address nutrition requirements in school meals. Other topics covered various challenges, including securing funding sources, developing sustainable school lunch programs, and action planning. Participants also had the opportunity to cook meals with high protein ingredients.

The workshop was made possible thanks to sponsors DuPont, the John Deere Foundation, INSTA-PRO International, CHS, NSRL and Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs).