Beyond the Bean

Beyond the Bean

Surprising Soy Solutions Making Life Better

By Darcy Dougherty Maulsby

What comes to mind when you think of products that make the world more sustainable? Put soy-based products at the top of the list.

After all, soybeans might just be agriculture’s MVP – Most Versatile Performer. Sure, they’ve been used for decades to produce livestock feed and biodiesel, but it might be surprising to know soy products also power various innovative products that improve daily life.

In some ways, finding new uses for soybeans is nothing new. “Back in the 1920s and early 30s, Henry Ford built a soybean lab near the Ford Motor plant in Deerfield, Michigan,” says Kirk Leeds, CEO of the Iowa Soybean Association. “In that lab, a team looked at diversifying ag crops into other products. The focus quickly turned to soybeans because of their composition and versatility.”

Soon, the team was developing an array of soy-based plastics, upholstery and fuels. “Ford urged farmers to have one leg in industry and the other in agriculture,” Leeds says. “Only by bringing the two together could you sustain markets for ag products. Ford was clearly ahead of his time in thinking broadly about the role of soybeans and developing additional market opportunities for the oilseed.”

Ford’s move to replace petroleum in auto interiors with soybean oil was revolutionary.

Photo Credit: United Soybean Board

Today’s scientists and innovators continue to tap into the incredible potential of the soybean by developing new soy-based products.

The following are several examples of modern soy solutions that benefit consumers, whether you live in the country or city.

Soybean oil is recognized as a versatile cooking oil with many health benefits.

Photo Credit: United Soybean Board

Got Graffiti?

There are few things more unsightly than graffiti in public spaces. Cleanup requires a safe, effective product that loosens the paint without hurting the surface where the graffiti was applied. Soy-based Graffiti Remover from Natural Soy Products in Cedar Falls can remove all color or spray paint, permanent markers, inks and lipstick from almost any surface, including metal, concrete, glass, aluminum siding and tile. This environmentally friendly, biodegradable, spray-on product is derived from soybean oil. In 2020, demand for the product soared in cities across the country after vandals spray-painted monuments and buildings.

Jeff Gard, operations manager at Natural Soy Products, notes the company sent graffiti remover to Los Angeles to remove graffiti on post office buildings and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Soy Shield Makes Roads, Bridges More Durable

New research is expanding soy into the asphalt and concrete markets to make more durable, longer-lasting roads. Natural Soy Products in Cedar Falls has been working with Midwest soybean organizations to develop a soy-based product called PoreShield. “This is a concrete extender that helps defend concrete from the elements and helps the concrete last seven to 15 years longer,” says Gard.

Common concrete sealants attempt to protect concrete by creating a protective film on the surface. Sealing works for a while – typically two to three years – but as soon as the seal is compromised, fluid damage begins again. Since the remaining seal can hinder evaporation, the damage could even be worse than before, according to Natural Soy Products, which has a production facility in Brooklyn, Iowa.

PoreShield absorbs deep into concrete pores to help keep moisture out. It provides longterm protection at the concrete’s surface and deep below it, where premature damage starts and leads to cracking, separation, breaking and more.

Since PoreShield is made from soybeans, it’s non-toxic, so there are no worries if any spray falls on water or land during application, Gard says. “It also has a wide application range, from roads to bridges,” says Gard, who adds that Natural Soy Products is one of only two licensees in the country authorized to produce and sell PoreShield.

Magic Beans

5 Ways Iowa Soybeans Make Life Better

There are few crops more versatile than soybeans, which are used in:

1. Soy foods, from soy protein power bars toheart-healthy soybean oil.

2. Soy-based crayons, which are non-toxic and safer for children.

3. Candles made with soybean oil, which burn cleaner.

4. Soy ingredients for feed, which provide a protein-powered boost for farm animals.

5. Soy ink, which has been used since the 1980s.Today, about one-third of America’s newspaper printers use soy ink, according to the AmericanSoybean Association.

Soybeans Drive Sustainable Fuel Solutions

Soybeans can be processed into biodiesel, a cleaner burning, renewable alternative to regular diesel. Soy-based biodiesel powers a range of vehicles, from semi-trucks to tractors. “Iowa is the No. 1producer of biodiesel in America,” says Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) and senior director of market development for the Iowa Soybean Association. Biodiesel made with soybean oil can help reduce greenhouse gases by up to 86%, compared to regular diesel, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Soy biodiesel also reduces smog and makes air healthier to breathe.

Safe, Sustainable Dust Control

A new soy-based dust suppressant, which can be used on roads, farms, construction sites and other locations offers a sustainable solution to improve air quality in rural and urban areas. The safe, biodegradable dust suppressant, BioBlend Renewable Resources’ EPIC EL, can be mixed with water and sprayed on unpaved roads, farm lanes, access roads to construction sites and more. It’s designed to compete with traditional, chloride-based, dust-control applications.

The Federal Highway Administration estimates 35% of the nation’s roads, or 1.3 million miles, are unpaved. Dust created by vehicles and machinery using these roadways has long been an unavoidable source of airborne pollutants. However, dust and other particulates can impair air quality in local communities for crops, livestock and pets. Overexposure to air pollutants, including dust, can compound challenges for people with preexisting conditions, such as asthma.

That’s where BioBlend Renewable Resources’ EPIC EL dust suppressant comes in. It’s one of many industrial-use products hitting the market after receiving research funding from state soybean checkoff organizations and the United Soybean Board (USB), which help find new uses for soy meal and soy oil. “A durable, soy-based dust suppressant is a natural choice for farmers, municipalities and businesses in rural and urban areas to improve air quality, transportation safety and sustainability,” says Brian Pierce, bioproducts development director at Smithbucklin, a primary contractor for USB.

A soy oil-based product sprayed on roofs can revive and protect aging asphalt shingles.

Saving Shingle Life

It’s expensive to replace a roof, but what if you could extend the useful life of your home’s asphalt shingles? Ames-based Colorbiotics offers Peak 301™, a soy oil-based product designed to revive and protect aging asphalt shingles. Launched in October 2021, Peak 301 is the all-natural answer guaranteed to give your roof years of life, says Kent Rotert, vice president of Colorbiotics. “Peak 301 strengthens the structure of a shingle to provide the weatherproofing foundation needed to withstand whatever a roof can go through.”

Peak 301 also increases the flexibility of asphalt shingles for longer life. “Because a roof sits out in the sun and bakes in the heat, it can start to crack and curl,” Rotert says. In addition, Peak 301 works its way through every single part of every shingle to fix the chemistry that breaks down over time. One application will add at least six years to your roof, according to Colorbiotics.

“Customers can expect to pay close to $500 less than our competitors and close to $7,700 less compared to replacing a roof,” Rotert notes.

In June 2022, Peak 301 was one of three Colorbiotics asphalt products the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved for its BioPreferred Program. This program is designed to increase the use of biobased products in the U.S., spur economic development, reduce America’s reliance on petroleum and increase the use of renewable agriculture resources.

Colorbiotics has been offering soy-based products since 2020. “Soy-based products are natural and safe for the environment, which is particularly important when applying products to roads and roofs that can have runoff,” Rotert says. “Plus, soybeans are a renewable resource, and we like to find innovative ways to support agriculture.”