URBANDALE, Iowa - The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Board of Directors is calling on Iowa soybean growers to join them in making this year’s soybean harvest part of the solution to world hunger. ISA board members are donating the cash equivalent of 21 acres of soybeans to the World Soy Foundation, which will use the proceeds to support soy-based nutrition programs in developing countries where hunger and malnutrition are widespread.

One acre of soybeans, approximately 42 bushels, can be used to make more than 2,500 gallons of soymilk or more than 40,000 eight-ounce servings. When converted into soybean oil and soy flour there is enough high-quality fat and protein to meet the full caloric needs for 80 people for a whole month — and that’s a conservative estimate. Therefore, the entire Iowa Soybean Board donation can be equated to 840,000 eight-ounce servings of soy milk or a month’s caloric needs for 1,680 people.

ISA President Curt Sindergard, of Rolfe is one of the acre donors, said, “It is gratifying to see the power of soy protein to do good in the world. We hope that fellow Iowa soybean growers, soybean processors and other allied industries will join us in contributing to the important work of the World Soy Foundation.”

Iowa soybean growers and their peers across the nation have been instrumental in the creation of the World Soy Foundation, a 501c3 charitable organization. Roy Bardole of Rippey serves as vice chair and Roy Arends of Alexander has also served on the World Soy Foundation board since its inception. The World Soy Foundation works with private voluntary and non-governmental organizations to deliver soy protein and nutrition education to people who need it around the world. Projects sponsored by the World Soy Foundation include complementary foods for children 6-36 months, school feeding programs and soy nutritional services. These projects let soy be part of the solution in a world where: