Soybean utilization research project

The external evaluation covered the period FY85- 9/89. The project is on schedule toward its goals, which were drastically changed after one year of implementation due to political pressure by commodity groups and were reduced by more than 30% because of A.I.D. budget cuts. Project research is having a positive and encouraging impact in developing countries: an increasing number of private entrepreneurs are using the technology to produce soy-based foods, feeds, and edible oil, while public sector agencies are applying the technology in nutrition programs. Moreover, U.S. agriculture and agribusiness are already reaping the benefits of the project"s dry and wet processing systems, as evidenced by increased equipment sales, high productivity in swine-raising, and the establishment of small, rural manufacturers of soy-based products. The project"s success is largely due to the strong commitment of the implementing agency, the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign (UIUC), and others in Illinois. UIUC has underwritten 30% of the project costs for infrastructure development, equipment, and administrative and scientific staff time. Rapport among research personnel is outstanding and considerable overtime has been invested. The private sector has demonstrated support by donating processing and analytical equipment, making manufacturing facilities available for test runs and demonstrations, and donating personnel time to the project. The Land of Lincoln Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association have also responded favorably to proposals for funding some project components. An action decision extends the project by three years. During this period, focus should be on technology transfer, not basic research.