A soy-based drinkable yogurt, specialty rolling papers made from soy fibre and an alternative soy-based fuel source are among the winners in this year’s Project SOY (Soybean Opportunities for Youth) competition.
The 20th annual event, held March 18, showcased 13 projects created by University of Guelph students from the Guelph and Ridgetown campuses.
“Project SOY does a superb job of showcasing the ingenuity and enthusiasm of U of G students,” said Malcolm Campbell, vice-president (research), who emceed the event.
“It also highlights the passion shared by our community leaders for the work done at U of G and its impact in Canada and beyond.”
Reflecting on the event’s anniversary, Peter Hannam, a soybean industry pioneer who helped found Project SOY, said: “We thought after a few years and 20 or so projects, people might run out of ideas. But they never did, and look at where we are today.”
Project SOY cash prizes were awarded for diploma, undergraduate and graduate projects.
Topping the undergraduate category was YoSOYummy, a soy-based drinkable yogurt with extra isoflavones developed by Christine Chung, Aly Kotwa, Christine Pelchat and Emma Thompson.
Second place went to Olivia Giacobbi, Richard Park and Joelle Wong for Soy Pearls, soy alternatives for tapioca used in bubble tea. SoyaSeal, a biodegradable soy protein lining for paper cups created by Geoffrey Beamish, Michael Biancaniello and Joyce Cheng, won third place.
Honourable mentions in the undergraduate category went to Jordan MacKenzie, Gabriel Allegrini and Alyssa Green for Soybe frozen yogurt, and Ariella Sone and Jenny Dicker for Soy Pods, a soybean-based hot beverage.
Graduate student Bharat Regmi won first prize for Torrefied Pellets, a soy-based fuel source. Eamonn McGuinty came second with a home gardening tool made of soybeans and recycled plastic.
In the diploma category, first place went to Greg Rooney, Ian Seifried and Matthew Baute of Ridgetown Campus for their SoyPure specialty rolling papers made from soy fibre. Second place went to Jessica LeClair of Ridgetown Campus for Soy Naturalle cosmetics for oily skin.
U of G president Franco Vaccarino, MPP Liz Sandals and MP Lloyd Longfield discussed projects with the participants.
Project SOY is sponsored by DEKALB Brand Seeds, SOY 20/20, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Grain Farmers of Ontario, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
