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Oct 15, 2012
St. Louis…The World Soy Foundation today released a new report Strengthening Soy Dairy Microenterprises: Opportunities and Obstacles for the Youth of Guatemala. The CHS Foundation provided funding for the study that offers recommendations based on the progress of Guatemalan communities assisted by the World Soy Foundation.
Youth like Maria are taking key roles in making healthy foods as they also learn business skills. Soy-plantain-egg pancakes, soy milk as well as smoothie-type drinks, muffins, cookies, pizza dough and more are examples of foods now available to Guatemalan children through the use of stainless steel processing machines, called SoyCows.
"CHS has helped the World Soy Foundation create an important new tool to reduce malnutrition through the power of soy," said World Soy Foundation Board Member Randy Van Kooten, a Linville, Iowa farmer who has met Guatemalan children who benefit from SoyCows. "I’m proud to be a member of a cooperative that cares like CHS."
North Dakota State (NDSU) and Mississippi State (MSU) Universities contributed to the report by sharing faculty who traveled to Guatemala and provided expert input. Gregory McKee, Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics and Director of Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives at NDSU, assessed the role for cooperative business strategies in soy dairies.
Another author of the report is MSU Associate Vice President-International Programs Benjy Mikel, who has a Ph.D. in food science and technology. MSU Associate Professor Chiquita Briley, Ph.D., provided input on nutrition as well as youth development programs like 4-H.
The authors’ recommendations are particularly timely as children’s nutrition programs in developing countries around the world are exploring the use of SoyCow processing machines to improve nutrition and health for children, generate income and provide youth with business training. Success with SoyCows prompted the First Lady of Guatemala, Rotary leaders and others to meet with the authors of the report.
The report is available at www.worldsoyfoundation.org. It highlights 10 core recommendations starting with the need for nutrition education to create demand for healthy foods, like those made by soy dairies. A cooperative business structure is a potentially favorable corporate structure for soy dairy businesses. Youth need training in nutrition, health, business, food and equipment safety, and more.
Today, there are 1.2 billion people in the world between 15 and 24 years of age, according to the International Labor Organization. And, 90 percent of them live in developing countries.
The World Soy Foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization that reduces malnutrition through the power of soy. An optimal source of protein, soy can play a powerful role in a child’s journey to health, happiness and a productive life. Therefore, the World Soy Foundation creates partnerships and builds alliances that deliver soy protein and nutrition education around the world. It is headquartered at the American Soybean Association. More information is available at www.worldsoyfoundation.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheWSF and Twitter at www.twitter.com/thewsf.
The CHS Foundation is the major giving entity of CHS Inc., a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. As a part of the CHS stewardship focus, the CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the future of rural America, agriculture and cooperative business through education and leadership development.
ASA represents all U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international issues of importance to the soybean industry. ASA’s advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary membership in ASA by more than 21,000 farmers in 31 states where soybeans are grown.
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Contact: Karen Coble Edwards • 703-281-7600
Click here to watch the video "What Does a SoyCow Do? She Can't Moo."
