| WISHH Mission
To create sustainable solutions for the protein demands of
people in developing countries through the introduction and use
of U.S. soy products.
WISHH Vision
WISHH will position U.S. soy to become a preferred protein
commodity in developing countries. WISHH will do this by expanding
markets and increasing incomes, reducing hunger, and improving the
quality of life of undernourished populations and those living with
devastating diseases.
About WISHH
The World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program promotes
the use of U.S. soy protein products in developing countries where
deficiency of protein in human diets is acknowledged to be a serious
problem. WISHH activities range from developing higher-protein breads
that are suitable for Afghanistan relief efforts to identifying
new uses for soy-fortified noodles in Indonesian school lunches.
In addition, WISHH is demonstrating the role of soy-based foods
in providing essential nutrition to the millions of people affected
by HIV/AIDS and much more.
The rapid growth in the world population, the gradual improvement in the
growth rates of national economies, and an acknowledged deficiency of protein in
human diets of a majority of world population, have created a unique opportunity
to enhance human consumption of soybean protein in different parts of the world.
In the developed countries, mainly the US, Canada, and Western Europe, the
demand for edible soy protein is being driven largely due to growing awareness
about the health effects of soy and a conscious effort to eat healthy foods.
There is a significant interest in the private industry to serve this need.
Among the developing countries, while there is a realization of the
deficiency of protein in human diets, systems are not in place to optimally use
soy to fulfill this demand. An overwhelming proportion of the world population
lives in these countries. The participation of the US food industry in these
countries is often limited. Therefore, it is important to focus attention on
developing countries. As the economic growth rates in these countries increase,
the demand for protein is also going to increase.
The National Soybean Research Laboratory has developed an analysis
of the global demand for protein under different population growth
and economic development scenarios. The initial results indicate
that there will be an explosive growth in this demand over the next
two decades. The most dramatic growth in demand will be in Asia
(Southeast Asia, South Asia, and China) and Africa, followed by
South America.
The approval of the health claim has reinforced the unique value of soy for
the human diet. There is urgency in the developing countries to improve the protein
content of the diets of their citizens. The billion-dollar donation effort has
created an opportunity to use soy on a large scale for human consumption in developing
countries. It is, therefore, the most appropriate time to take advantage of this
situation to develop a systematic program to increase consumption of soybean protein
in human diets in these countries. WISHH seeks to target several countries and
geographical regions simultaneously and to capitalize on as yet unidentified opportunities.
Current program areas include:
- Identify greater roles for soy in sustainable nutrition and development
programs where soy can fortify locally available foods in developing countries
throughout the world.
- Create new and expanded uses for soybeans and soy products, particularly
high protein products, such as textured soy protein, soy flour, soy protein
concentrates and isolates.
- Support and help formulate food assistance and development programs of
Private Volunteer Organizations and the World Food Programme.
- Demonstrate the importance of soy nutrition to people with HIV/AIDS in work
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Agency for International
Development and other institutions.
- Promote commercial soy foods markets in developing countries with food
processing and technology expertise and by raising consumer awareness of health
benefits.
Download WISHH FactSheet
Download UN Goals Chart
The American Soybean Association, United Soybean Board and state soybean
associations support WISHH. For more information, contact WISHH Program Director
Jim Hershey at the American Soybean Association. 1-800-688-SOYA (7692) or at
wishh@soy.org
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