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Soybean Checkoff takes soy technology to new levelsNew uses for soybeans are popping up everywhere you look, from soy resin for tractor hoods to soy foam for seats and headrests. The United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff strive to locate new opportunities to work with industry to include soybeans in existing products and create new products using soy--all to drive new demand for U.S. soybeans. The soybean checkoff hosted a press conference at the 2008 Commodity Classic featuring two checkoff success stories of partnerships with Ford Motor Company and John Deere. "The inclusion of soy in both Ford and John Deere products comes as a direct result of U.S. soybean farmers' checkoff investments," says Ike Boudreaux, USB chairman and soybean farmer from Lebeau, La. "But this is not the end. There will be many more successes in the future that U.S. soybean farmers can be proud to say they had a part in through the checkoff." After three years of collaboration between the checkoff and Ford Motor Company, Ford was able to develop the technology to include soy foam in the seat backs and cushions of the 2008 Mustang. This is only the beginning, however; Ford is planning on including this same technology in the Expedition, F-150 and Lincoln Navigator, as well as increasing the amount of soy used in the foam. "Sustainable materials research is more than a promise at Ford Motor Company, it's a commitment to our customers to do the right thing for the environment," says Matthew Zaluzec, Manager of the Materials and Nanotechnology Department at Ford Motor Company's Research and Innovation Center. "We are pleased to be the industry leader in soy-foam seating. Working closely with the United Soybean Board together with our technology partners, Lear and United Soy Systems, we have taken an automotive material commodity back to the heartland of America." A partnership between the checkoff and John Deere resulted in the inclusion of soy resin in the John Deere tractor body panels and combines. Now, John Deere has expressed interest in including soy in the seating applications of some of its tractors. Ford has licensed its soy seating technology to John Deere, furthering the success of this checkoff partnership. "John Deere has long been a partner with the checkoff in helping to develop new uses and markets for soybeans," says Don Borgman, Director Ag Industry Relations, John Deere. "Whether we're developing new technology for a soy resin composite in combine side panels and tractor hoods, filling our factory-build machines with biodiesel or experimenting with the use of new soy foam for cushioning in our combine seats, we're looking for new opportunities to use commodities that our customers produce." Checkoff efforts will continue to focus on finding new opportunities to expand the use of soybeans. The farmer-leaders of USB work to invest in products in five main market areas, including plastics, coatings, lubricants, printing inks and adhesives, as well as emerging industrial opportunities that show promise in commercialization, thus driving demand for U.S. soybeans. If you would like to hear a full version of the checkoff's press conference at Commodity Classic, go to http://www.unitedsoybean.org/Media/VideoAudio.aspx to download the press conference in MP3 format. USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff. 3/24/08 Date: 3/14/08 Advertisement
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