CheckOff Helps Commercialize 33 New Soy-Based Products

Feb 06, 2015

Farmer-funded projects drive innovations in soy chemistry, keep industrial demand on rise

What does foam that keeps floors from squeaking have in common with NASCAR racing tires? Both contain soybean oil. Both are on the list of 33 new products commercialized in 2014 with soy checkoff support. And both are driving demand for U.S. soybeans.

All together, more than 800 soy-based products have been developed with checkoff support since 1990. United Soybean Board (USB) Director Dale Profit, a soybean farmer from Van Wert, Ohio, has seen many advancements firsthand and anticipates even more soy-based product development in the future.

“Some new uses, like biodiesel, are high-volume,” Profit explains. “Other products, like carpet backing, paint and concrete-release forms, may use smaller amounts of soy, but have higher value. The market for ingredients like soy polyols keeps increasing in industries ranging from automotive to furniture manufacturers, which increases the demand for U.S. soy at home and abroad.”

Checkoff-funded research continues to pay dividends as manufacturers look for ways to displace industry standards like petroleum, latex, mineral oil and other possibly carcinogenic materials in their products. Raw materials from sustainable soy provide environmental benefits and have been proven to perform as well as the ingredients they replace in a wide range of products, at a comparable cost. In fact, some perform even better.

Browse USB’s Soy Products Guide, an online catalog of the thousands of currently available soy-based products, ingredients and manufacturers.

New soy-based products and ingredients introduced in 2014 as a result of checkoff support include:

PLASTICS

Eco Ultimate Silencer™ – Foam underlayment and carpet cushion by Foam Products Corp.

Eco Silencer HD FOF™ – A high-density-foam underlayment for floors by Foam Products Corp.

BETAFOAM™ Renue – Sound-deadening foam by Dow Chemical that is used in cars

Automotive seating for GM cars – Foam made with soy polyols by Lear Corporation

TSE EcoWIND™ – A polyurethane resin with soy oil for filament winding by TSE Industries, Inc.

RUBBER

NASCAR Racing Tires – Soybean oil used in rubber compounds by Goodyear Tire & Rubber

COATINGS /PRINTING INKS

Avicor® 384 and Avicor® 385 – Low-VOC architectural latex paints by Celanese

Beckosol AQ® 400 – Traffic line paint by Reichhold

ADHESIVES

Liquamelt® – A new adhesive system for wood by H.B. Fuller

CedarSafe® – 4’x8’ flakeboard panels used to make cedar closets made with Soyad® soy-based adhesive by Giles & Kendall, Inc.

Hardwood plywood panels – Made with Soyad® soy-based adhesive by States Industries, LLC, and available in home-improvement stores

Pangua PureGlue™ – Plywood with Soyad® soy-based adhesive made by Panguaneta S.P.A.

NU GREEN® – Particleboard and thermofused laminates by Uniboard Canada that replace formaldehyde with Soyad® soy-based adhesive

PAPER

AW-130SB™, AW-140SB™, AW-150SB™ – Soy wax emulsions for paper and packaging applications by A&W Products

PSA50MA™ and A5060™ – Binders for paper and paperboard made by Applied Protein Systems

SOLVENTS

Elevance Clean™ 1200 – Zero-VOC metal degreaser made by Elevance Renewable Sciences

ECO-300™ and MFS-Green™ – Oil-storage-tank cleaners made by FloTek industries

LUBRICANTS

GEOlube SCO™ – Oil-well-drilling lubricants by GEO Specialty Chemicals

Concert™ GC-350 – A grease-processing aid made by Elevance Renewable Sciences

EMERGING INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES

StimOil® FBA M, StimOil® FBA Plus, StimOil® EC, and StimOil® EN – Downhole crude oil recovery aides by FloTek industries

Azelaic acid – A soy-derived product by Emery Oleochemicals that is used in Nylon 6.9 and greases

Pelargonic acid – A soy-derived product used in paints, inks and greases by Emery Oleochemicals

WAX

Soy-based candles – Bennington Candle Company

Soy-based candles – Coyer Candle Company

Soy-based candles – Prize Candle Company

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy’s customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

Source: unitedsoybean.org

Video: How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Gurcharn Singh Brar is a wheat breeder whose path meandered from the breadbaskets of Punjab, India, to the sprawling fields of the Prairies. In a candid conversation, Brar shared insights into his journey, the challenges faced, and the undying passion that fuels his quest for better crops.

It all began with a childhood rooted in the wheat fields of Punjab, where agriculture isn’t just a livelihood but a way of life. His fascination with wheat and its potential led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at Punjab Agricultural University. It was during this time that he encountered the spectre of rust diseases, particularly stripe rust, which plagued the region’s wheat crops. Determined to combat this menace, he set his sights on a journey that would take him across continents.

Venturing abroad for his graduate studies, he found himself in Saskatchewan at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), working under the mentorship of renowned researchers like Randy Kutcher and Pierre Hucl. Here, he delved deep into the world of wheat genetics, focusing on stripe rust resistance — a quest that would shape his academic pursuits for years to come.

After completing his master’s and Ph.D. in six and a half years, he embarked on a professional journey that would see him traverse academia and research. From brief stints as a research officer to landing his dream faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Plant Science program, his career trajectory was marked by a strong drive to make a difference in the world of wheat.

Despite the allure of British Columbia’s unique agricultural landscape, he found himself wanting to return to the vast expanses of the Prairies, where wheat reigns supreme. He recently returned to the Prairies and is the new wheat breeder at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“The opportunity to lead an established wheat breeding program at the University of Alberta was a dream come true. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, I’m excited to drive innovation and develop high-yielding wheat varieties tailored to the unique conditions of northern Canada,” he says.

Brar, one of Seed World Canada‘s 2024 Next-Gen Leaders, has become known for identifying novel sources of resistance to priority diseases and his efforts in developing wheat germplasm with multiple disease-resistant traits.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Brar is committed to mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists.

“I believe in nurturing talent and empowering students to pursue their passions,” he says. “Watching my students grow and thrive in their research endeavours is hugely rewarding.”

As he looks ahead, Brar’s vision for the future of wheat breeding is clear: “My number one target is to develop high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the northern climates of Canada. By focusing on early maturity and strong straw traits, we can maximize yield potential while ensuring resilience to environmental challenges.”

His decision to also join the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and Triticale (PGDC) executive as member-at-large came from a desire to play an even more important role in the world of Canadian cereals.