Combines/Harvesters
Resource highlights industrial market opportunities for Canadian soybeans

Nov. 17, 2009

Guelph, Ontario –Industrial Uses and Opportunities for Canadian Soybeans, a new brochure highlighting industrial market opportunities for Canadian soybeans, is now available. The goal of the 16-page resource, produced by Soy 20/20, is to generate awareness of the many new soy-based products and applications being developed, as well as those already commercially available.

“Bio-products are an emerging new market for Canadian soybeans that is just starting to evolve,” says Jeff Schmalz, President of Soy 20/20, a Guelph-based organization that supports and develops new bioscience opportunities for Canadian soybeans. “Many people are familiar with food-based applications for soybeans, but this guide specifically focuses on the many exciting industrial developments that are happening as well.”

The brochure describes various industrial applications for Canadian soybeans using oil, protein, hulls and other components of the plant. This includes wood adhesives, rubbers and plastics, inks and resins, foam, lubricants and fluids, paints and coatings, wax and biodiesel. Many of these applications are available for further development or commercialization.

The bio-products sector in Canada, which is being encouraged through organizations like Soy 20/20, will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and make manufacturing more environmentally friendly. It will also provide soybean farmers with more options to market their crops.

 “Our goal at Soy 20/20 is to encourage the development of these new applications through increased investment in Canadian soybean processing businesses,” says Murray Booth, Business Development Manager with Soy 20/20. “This is expected to generate more value for everyone along the value chain from plant breeders and farmers, to processors, distributors and end users of these innovative new products.”  

The brochure complements the resource released last year, called Canada’s Soybean Value Chain. Copies of both are available from Soy 20/20 by calling 519-826-6559 or by visiting www.soy2020.ca. An additional brochure focusing on food-based applications for soybeans is planned for 2010.