NSRL: This week at a glance

It was a fast and furious week at NSRL and it was also an anxious week for soybean farmers who
were busy getting soybeans planted before the rains hit. For many fields planted before the rain, farmers are keeping close eye on germination and emerging seeds. We hope this fast paced planting season leads to outstanding yields when it's all said and done.

On Monday we had the opportunity to learn the latest and greatest regarding livestock genome mapping and sequencing. The research will pinpoint genes that are useful to the livestock industry or are involved in immunity or other important physiological processes in livestock. It will enhance breeding practices, offer insight into diseases that afflict livestock. The mapping of genomes holds the potential for research breakthroughs in the areas of agriculture, medicine, and even conservation. It will also be important for the study of human health because certain aspects of livestock production including physiology, behavior and nutritional needs can provide insight into human disease and health. Lyle Roberts and Craig Ratajczyk from Illinois Soybean Association were in attendance to hear Dr. Jozef Kokini, Dean of Research, College of ACES give updates on genome mapping.

The Illinois Center for Soy Foods held their monthly meeting on Tuesday to discuss soy nutrition. The Soy Solutions for School Webinar was an overwhelming success. Over 250 participants learned more about incorporating soy in their school lunch menu. NSRL's own Stacey Krawczyk moderated the webinar and the featured speakers included a representative from the USDA, several school districts that include soy on their menu and a spokesperson from the Soyfoods Association of North America.

NSRL staff enjoyed a tour and interactive discussion about soy processing at Incobrasa Industries in Gilman, Illinois on Wednesday. We had the chance to view their bottling and packaging facility that processes over 24,000 bottles of soybean oil per hour. We also learned more about their meal, pellet and biodiesel operations. We then headed north to the Chicago Board of Trade and were touring the facility when the markets closed and traders scurried to make last minute deals. We were fascinated by the brightly colored jackets worn by traders and inquired about membership, electronic trading and the intracacies of the pits. It rained most of the day, but we didn't let the weather damper our spirits.

Thursday included planning meetings in Bloomington at the Illinois Soybean Association regarding the upcoming ISA Summer Tour being held at the University of Illinois on July 20th. Production research will be highlighted and tours of research plots are at the top of the priority list, weather permitting.

Representatives from the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and the World Soy Foundation (WSF) were at NSRL on Friday for a strategy and planning meeting regarding international soy projects and programs for the coming year. Malnutrition continues to be the gravest single threat to the world's public health and improving nutrition is widely regarded as the most effective form of aid. WISHH, WSF and NSRL continue to look for soy solutions in the areas of school lunch programs, early childhood nutrition, nutrition support for devasting diseases and microenterprise program development. The need for soy protein solutions around the world is significant. NSRL international programs have a common theme - - provide nutrition support in the areas around the world that face extreme challenges of malnutrition and chronic disease.

Thanks to all those who contributed time, talent and tenacity to get the international grant proposal out the door and on its way for review this week. This proposal is truly a multi-faceted collaboration between other University of Illinois faculty and staff, other universities and many international partners.

Sarah Cervantes - Pahm, University of Illinois graduate student under Dr. Hans Stein in the Monogastric Nutrition Laboratory, spent time this week in the NSRL pilot plant working with the hammer mill. Scott Buchanan assisted Sarah working with equipment and processing procedures.

Remodeling of the ABL kitchen is well underway and completion is on schedule. We look forward to using the new and improved kitchen facilities for the upcoming INTSOY Short Course that begins June 6th.

We bid farewell to our graduating senior, Brittany Small this week. Brittany has been a student worker for NSRL for over a year and her positive attitude and infectious smile will be missed in the halls of NSRL. We wish Brittany the best as she enters the world of U of I Alumnus.

Regards,

Bridget