-- From the food that billions of people rely
on to the thousands of biobased consumer innovations like fuel
that's helping decarbonize our planet, get a glimpse into the
soybean's instrumental role in American history and humanity's
future --
ST.
LOUIS, June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On
Saturday, June 22, a new documentary
showcasing the unique innovative power of the
soybean, GroundBreaking: A Story of Innovation, will
premiere on the A&E Network at 1 p.m.
EDT. With an American origin story that dates back nearly
150 years, the soybean plant has evolved into a resource used by
farmers, chemists, historians, chefs and astrobiologists. This
story features experts diving into how soy unlocks sustainable,
biobased alternatives, best-in-class performance, optimized
nutrition for animals and humans alike and a viable future to
empower space exploration.
Get a glimpse into the soybean's
instrumental role in American history and humanity's future.
"Throughout my travels, I've witnessed the infinite
opportunities that soybeans can create," said Jeff Houghton, the documentary's host. "I've
been astonished to see the magnitude of where and how soy can show
up in the world. Through this story, we uncovered how something so
small could have such a huge impact on the planet, from global
trade to the food we consume to the clothes that we wear to the
cars we drive."
GroundBreaking: A Story of Innovation, visits nine states
and talks to 15 experts about the past, present and future soybeans
can create. Those stops include:
- Skidway Island, Georgia, where the very first soybeans in
America were brought over from China and planted by Samuel Bowen in the 1880s.
- The Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, where seeking a crop that could
yield great industrial value to him, Henry
Ford created a prototype soybean car in 1941 with all of the
major exterior body panels made out of soy-based plastic.
- Farms in Arkansas and
Indiana, where seed innovation
enhances sustainability, reduces environmental impact and improves
plant health and animal diets.
- A Mars simulation at the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, where the Hawaii Space Exploration
Analog and Simulation explores soy as a crop that could potentially
be used for future Mars missions by planting and researching soy in
simulated Martian soil.
- And additional visits to Kansas, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Michigan to explore how soy shows up at
the KCBS World Invitational BBQ Contest, aquaculture farming at
Auburn University, a Pittsburgh stains and coatings lab and the
Detroit Grand Prix.
"As a soybean farmer, our primary goal is to grow a crop that
replenishes the soil and nourishes the world through food, feed and
other renewable products," said Jim
Douglas, a soybean, corn and pig farmer from Indiana featured in the documentary. "The
soybean's increasing versatility, driven by our ability to innovate
and collaborate with industry and academic partners, will allow me
to pass this land down to my son and leave a legacy of
sustainability driven by the next generation."
GroundBreaking: A Story of Innovation is a
first-of-its-kind documentary exploring the future of agriculture
and the wide scope of a single crop's global potential, is funded
by the half-million U.S. soybean farmers, like Jim, who invest in
creating sustainable soy solutions for every life, every day.
Soybeans are the United States'
number one agricultural export, producing one-third of global soy
output, wielding incredible strength and stability for the U.S.
economy – $124 billion to be
exact.
One acre of soybeans, which equates to about 50 bushels or 3,000
pounds, is enough protein and oil to produce animal feed for 800
pounds of boneless chicken (which could feed 10 people for a year),
50 gallons of renewable diesel fuel (enough for a semitruck to
travel from NYC to Pittsburgh) and
two years of an average person's vegetable oil consumption.
Continued innovation is creating the potential for the soybean to
serve as a catch-all fossil fuel replacement in the near
future.
"On top of its many uses on Earth, the soybean's potential on
Mars is something we're actively researching, due to its ability to
grow in microgravity with very limited resources," said Michaela
Musilova, a Slovak astrobiologist currently operating at the Hawaii
Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS). "Soybeans are
one of eight crops that could be used during long-duration space
missions, and really serves as a Swiss Army knife due to its
versatility."
To learn more, visit ussoy.org. GroundBreaking: A Story of
Innovation, produced by St.
Louis-based Spot Content Studio and directed by Sam Pinkstone, will air on Saturday, June 22 at 1:00
p.m. EDT on the A&E Network, however please check local
listings. GroundBreaking: A Story of Innovation is also
available to stream through A&E and its partners.
About U.S. Soy
Representing the positive global human
impact of soy grown in the United
States, the U.S. Soy brand exists to carry forward soy's
promise to transform global nutrition, provide climate-forward
solutions, and support progress for people and their communities.
U.S. Soy is powered by the innovation of the industry; the
unsurpassed quality, reliability, and sustainability of the
soybeans grown by our farming families who invest through checkoff
dollars; and the commitment of the organizations that raise
awareness, build demand, develop new markets, and discover new uses
for soy and soy products. U.S. Soy envisions a world where soy is a
fundamental ingredient in solving the broad challenges of humanity.
To learn more about U.S. Soy visit ussoy.org.
About Spot Content Studio
Spot Content Studio, Inc. is
an award-winning video production company that combines art and
science to create compelling stories that educate and inform.
Founded more than 20 years ago in St.
Louis, Missouri, we believe the art of storytelling happens
in every phase of the production process. Every person involved in
our projects enriches the story's creativity, details, and design
through their skills and talents. Along with video production, Spot
specializes in digital content creation and strategy, podcasts and
live streaming. To learn more, visit www.spot.studio.
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SOURCE United Soybean Board (USB)