ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The World Soy Foundation (WSF) offers a unique gift-giving idea for soybean producers, that reaches outside the borders of Midwest farm fields and touches lives across the globe.

Illinois farmer and WSF chairman Philip Bradshaw from Griggsville, Ill., is encouraging soybean growers to consider giving the gift of soy this holiday season by joining the organization’s “Soybean Acre Challenge,” a unique grassroots humanitarian project in which producers pledge to donate the equivalent of one acre of their soybean harvests to WSF causes.

“Gifts can be designated for specific Foundation projects in specific countries,” Bradshaw said. “An acre of harvested soybeans can be used to make more than 40,000 eight-ounce servings of soy milk. When converted to oil and flour, the fat and protein can meet the full caloric needs of 80 people for a month.”

Among the groups heeding WSF’s “call to acreage” are the Illinois and Iowa soybean associations, with Iowa Soybean Assoc. board members pledging the equivalent of 21 acres of soybeans to help WSF support soy-based nutrition programs in developing countries where hunger and malnutrition are prevalent. The Iowa donation can be equated to 840,000 eight-ounce servings of soy milk or one month’s caloric needs for 1,680 people.

“It is gratifying to see the power of soy protein to do good in the world,” said Iowa Soybean Assoc. president Curt Sindergard, who is one of the acre donors. “We hope that fellow Iowa soybean growers, soybean processors and other allied industries will join us in contributing to the important work of the (WSF).”

Projects sponsored by WSF, which was founded by farmers and is a 501c3 corporation chartered in Missouri, include complimentary foods for children six to 36 months of age, school feeding programs and soy nutritional services. Anyone can make contributions to WSF via cash donations, securities, planned gifts, memorial and tribute gifts, life insurance gifts, bequests or corporate matching gifts.

For more on donating to the World Soy Foundation, contact Catherine Ndegwa at 314-754-1329 or e-mail her at world soy@worldsoyfoundation.org