News Briefs

WSF And ADRA Sign Memorandum To Build On Soyfoods Opportunity In Ghana

May 21, 2009...Source: ASA Leader Letter...The American Soybean Association’s World Soy Foundation (WSF) and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) signed a memorandum of understanding in May that will help respond to the need for better nutrition through soyfoods in the West African country of Ghana.

WSF Executive Director Jim Hershey joined ADRA in Ghana to launch the effort that is supported by WhiteWave Foods. WSF is helping ADRA Ghana place a soyfoods processing machine called a Vitagoat in a rural community that will start feeding children in September 2009 with locally grown soybeans.

The project will address two components of food security - access to food and food utilization. The project will provide 450 students with soymilk each day they attend school. ADRA will help organize nutrition and health training for teachers and students to help adopt appropriate nutrition and health practices.

Better Nutrition Through Soyfoods in Ghana School Feeding ProgramThe new initiative builds on a successful school feeding program in the country that was also supported by Silk/WhiteWave in 2007. Two schools located in an area with high poverty levels, food insecurity and malnutrition participated in the project that benefited 280 pupils. Cooks were trained in the use of all the different soy products (textured soy protein, soy chunks, soy grits, defatted soy flour, etc.) in order to facilitate the use of the various products in local dishes. In the two schools, enrollment increased by 33 percent and average school attendance increased by 20 percent.