New Uses Innovation
The future of Indiana’s soybeans begins today
Indiana soybean farmers are leaders in identifying and commercializing innovative new uses of soybeans.
Soybeans provide a “greener” alternative for many of the products you use every day, and when companies develop new products made from soybeans, they create another market for millions of bushels of soybeans each year.
What’s the benefit? The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) works with product development companies, entrepreneurs and universities to identify, develop and commercialize new soybean uses that have significant market demand impact for Indiana soybean farmers.
ISA is also working hard to promote the many advantages of soy-based products, such as soy crayons, concrete durability enhancer and soy wax, all of which originated from Indiana soybean checkoff efforts.
Several soybean new uses have come from Purdue students thanks to the ISA-sponsored Student Soybean Innovation Competition that is held each year. It’s held as a way to introduce students to soybeans and their potential, as well as a way to find creative, innovative new uses for soy. Visit Purdue University online to learn more about the student competition.
Click here to see a video of the 2022 competition!
Pioneering new uses for soybeans in Indiana
In 2019, we achieved a breakthrough to increase demand for Indiana soybeans. It’s called PoreShield – a revolutionary, soy-based concrete durability enhancer. Where other technologies merely coat the surface, PoreShield penetrates concrete, filling and shielding the pores from water, salt, and freeze-thaw damage. And because it’s made from soybeans, it’s environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
What does this mean for soybean farmers? Huge potential! An average of 400 bushels of soybeans is utilized in just one mile of road application. Learn more about the product at poreshield.com.
This latest innovation is built on a decades-long legacy of supporting new uses for soy:
In 1994, a team won the Student Soybean Innovation Competition by developing soy-based crayons. This team replaced petroleum with soy wax and in the process created a better product for artists to use. A year later, those crayons became ISA’s first major commercialized product.
In 1997, a student entry in the competition replaced petroleum oil with soybean oil in candles. ISA brought this innovation to market, and currently holds six patents on soy wax in candles.
Since then, the ISA has helped support students as they create and develop a wide variety of soy-based innovations, including:
- Drinking straws
- Air filters
- 3-D printing materials
- A herbicide
The United Soybean Board’s online quick guide will help you source and buy the latest soybean products.
Additional Resources
United Soybean Board Soy New Uses — This website provides the most up-to-date information on soybean products available.
Soyfoods Guide — This guide is full of information and great new recipes using soy.
PoreShield.com — Learn more about this revolutionary soy-based, penetrating concrete durability enhancer.