Globally, more than one billion teenage girls and women suffer from malnutrition, and as a mother of two daughters myself, the need to keep optimal nutrition at the forefront of my mind is personal.
The effects of malnutrition are permanent and are passed on from generation to generation, creating a cycle of chronic hunger that affects people and the communities they live in in every country around the world. This is a reality we must face, and one for which we can offer high-impact solutions.
This year, The Hunger Project is spotlighting the importance of women in food security in celebration of World Hunger Day on May 28. By investing in improving women’s and children’s nutrition, you help create a world where we can all thrive.
U.S. soybean farmers and agricultural communities have long been working to improve food security by improving access to nutritious foods and helping to address other socio-economic factors that often stand in the way of adequate nutrition. While much challenge remains, we have worked in partnerships around the world and across the food value chain in recent years to make important progress.
First and foremost, our farmers provide a steady supply of high-quality, sustainably produced soybeans to our customers around the world. Soybeans provide a complete protein essential to a healthy diet, both directly as human food and indirectly as animal feed, such as chicken, eggs, pork and fish. With more local protein sources, communities have better access to food, positively impacting the health and socio-economic status of individuals and families.
But our commitment to supporting our local community goes far beyond the soybeans we produce. The nature of this work reminds us of an old Chinese proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
A billboard in Seoul promoting sustainable U.S. soybeans features Indiana farmer and United Soybean Company director Jim Douglas.Through the soybean checkoff, we invest in multiple programs that help developing country poultry, livestock and fish farmers maximize efficiencies, develop new markets and adopt modern sustainable practices. These efforts benefit all parties as they improve food security and strengthen local businesses in communities around the world, creating new market opportunities for U.S. soybeans.
Many of these programs are supported by the Global Initiative on Soy for Human Health (WISHH), which supports 500,000 soybean farmers in the U.S. WISHH provides a starting point for human nutrition as it develops global markets and builds agricultural value chains. By expanding these relationships, we are creating the soy consumers of tomorrow.
WISHH works with entrepreneurs in developing markets to help them start and grow their businesses, strengthening food security and communities in the process. A great example of this work is WISHH’s Aqua Internship Program, where students in sub-Saharan Africa learn the latest techniques in aquaculture (or “fish farming”), and through hands-on development, they not only teach leadership skills that help them create successful businesses, but also promote the desirability of U.S. soybeans as a fish feed ingredient.
Soy Excellence Centers are another great example of fostering regional economic growth through knowledge transfer and mentoring. Founded by the U.S. Soybean Export Council, SECs cover the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. These centers have customized focus areas based on regional needs and priorities and serve as hubs to share best practices in soy-based protein production.
U.S. soybean farmers are proud to support efforts aimed at directly reducing hunger around the world. One example is Edesia Nutrition, which produces specialty foods designed to support recovery from various stages of malnutrition. Their “Plumpy’Nut” bars are packed with nutrients, including protein-rich soy, that can lift malnourished people in just a few weeks.
Clearly, much more needs to be done to alleviate hunger for women and children around the world. U.S. soybean farmers will continue to seek opportunities to promote food security, both through the products we supply and the important education programs we support, helping food producers, their families and communities thrive. We know that by helping develop strong businesses focused on global food security, everyone wins.
This work is just one part of a complex and vital challenge. We must remember that food security and national security are inextricably linked. This work shows that when we all focus on breaking down barriers and contributing to a prosperous global community, we all benefit.
Lucas Lenci, who has had a lifelong passion for agriculture, is CEO of the United Soybean Board.
