INDIANAPOLIS — A Purdue University student from Warsaw developed a new soy-based product and presented the product at 23rd Student Soybean Product Innovation Competition reception on March 28 in Indianapolis.

Sixteen teams – representing 50 students from seven countries – completed projects for the competition sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. One of those projects was S-Cups, a soy-based Keurig-style coffee filter. Alexis Laureano, a biological engineering student from Kosciusko County, was a member of the S-Cups team.

“For many of these students, this competition was their first exposure to soybeans and the possibilities around this versatile crop,” said Tom Griffiths, ISA chairman and farmer from Kendallville, Ind. “It is my hope that the experience was positive for them and some of the students might consider a career in our industry to bring even more soy-based innovations to the marketplace.”

The teams began working on their projects in September 2016 and completed them in February 2017. All submitted projects from the participating teams were judged by farmers, agriculture industry representatives and marketing professionals. Winners were announced at an event at the Indiana Roof Ballroom where students showcased their projects in front of hundreds of guests.

A team that created FiltraSoy, a soy-based air filter, won the top prize of $20,000. A second-place award of $10,000 went to a team that produced Soy Poofession, a soy-based odor trapping toilet spray and a third-place award of $5,000 went to a team that produced Soy Droplet, a freeze-dried soy protein snack.

“Our farmer board invests checkoff funds in this competition to hopefully move some of the products from this competition to market for the benefit of soybean farmers,” said Griffiths. “We see potential in several of the soy-based products developed by students this year and are looking forward to seeing where they go in the future.”

Since 1994, Indiana Soybean Alliance has sponsored the Student Soybean Product Innovation Competition for Purdue University students. The competition held as a way to introduce students to soybeans and their potential, as well as a way to find creative, innovative new uses for soy. Several soybean uses have come from Indiana thanks to the Indiana soybean checkoff, including soybean crayons, soybean oil candles and soybean concrete sealer.