MUMBAI, 30TH JUNE 2018 : In order to encourage soy food processing,
Conference on the “Entrepreneurship Development in Soy Food Processing
“ was held at Mumbai. This program was organised by the US Soybean
Export Council (USSEC) jointly with the Association of Food Scientist
and Technologists (AFST) and involving various stakeholders from the
industry, government, academia, agri. Policy experts, US department of
Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI), Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI) and the
financial institutions etc.
Mr. P Muthumaran, Director FSSAI for the Western and Southern Region
was the chief guest on the occasion.
SPEAKING ON THE SOY FOOD BUSINESS POTENTIAL IN INDIA AND THE ROLE SOY
CAN PLAY IN HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY OF INDIA, DR. RATAN SHARMA
OF THE USSEC stated that Soybean is one of the very few plants those
provide a high quality protein with minimum saturated fat. Soybean helps
people feel better and live longer with an enhanced quality of life.
Soybeans contain all the three macronutrients required for good
nutrition, as well as fiber, vitamins, minerals. Soybean protein
provides all the essential amino acids in the amounts needed for human
health. Protein in just 250 grams of soy bean is equivalent to protein
in 3 liters of milk or 1 kg of mutton or 24 no’s of eggs. In addition
to being a rich source of nutrients, soybean has a number of
phytochemicals (isoflavones), which offer health benefits along with soy
protein. Soy protein and isoflavones together contribute to a number of
health benefits such as, cancer prevention, cholesterol reduction,
keeping heart healthy, combating osteoporosis and menopause regulation.
Being low in glycaemic index soy plays a very important role in
maintaining the low sugar levels in diabetics.
Dr. Sharma further explained about the nutritional quality of the soy
oil from USA. Besides the regular nutritious soy oil US has developed
high oleic soy oil. High oleic soy oil is being very popular as
industry preferred substitute for partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
and are used in all manners of processed foods especially the snack
foods for deep frying. High oleic soy oil is free from trans fats as
well as lower in saturated fat and contains three times more of
beneficial monounsaturated fatty acid compared to conventional soy oil.
As per Dr. sharma US Food and Drug Administration FDA approved Bunge
North America’s petition for a qualified health claim linking soybean
oil consumption to reduced risk of heart disease. Soybean oil is the
US’ most commonly used ingredient and top dietary source of
polyunsaturated fats. Soy oil is the second largest edible oil used in
India. Soybean oil is considered heart-healthy oil as it’s
cholesterol-free and low in saturated fatty acids – it contains 61 %
poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Two fat components essential for health
and wellbeing, linoleic and linolenic acids, are also found in the right
proportions in soybean oil. It is also a good source of vitamin E. Like
fish oils, soybean oil contains omega-3, known to be protective against
heart disease and cancer. He told that US soy oil is known for its
nutritional superiority in comparison with the soy oils from other
origins.
Discussing about the Soy food business opportunities in India Dr. Sharma
very clearly mentioned that raw material plays a major role to produce a
quality product delivering proper nutrients and making a tasty product.
Food specialty soybeans are not grown in India limiting the growth of
soy food sector in lack of desired quality product with limited value
addition possibilities. Dr. Sharma highly recommended the food specialty
soybeans from USA which produces an excellent quality soy food with much
better acceptability of the end product and excellent value addition
possibility when compare with the Indian soybeans.
Mr. Adam Branson the senior Agri. Attaché of Agriculture Affairs at the
Foreign Agriculture Services, USDA of the United States Consulate
general at Mumbai explained that a huge opportunity exists for the
agriculture products trade between India and the United States. Adam
stated that Agriculture is one of the top economies of the US and we
look forward India as a great partner to us for the agri. business and
the related trade. Adam further discussed about the bilateral trade
relations between US and India, environmentally sustainable production
of soybeans, about agri. commodities and other areas of US agriculture
and agri. Products where both the countries can work together.
Mr. G. Chandrasekhar, a senior agriculture policy and trade expert spoke
about addressing the nutritional challenges and creating employment
through soy food business. He replied the query on various aspects of
the food and agriculture policies of the Indian government. Dr. Prabodh
Halde, head regulatory affairs, Marico and president of AFST, India
covered the regulatory norms on various food products, processing and
labelling etc. Dr. BV Mehta talked about the supply and demand of the
edible oils in India and he told that India has a great potential of
using soybean oil. The consumption of soy oil is increasing because of
its nutritional superiority to other edible oils. Mr. Indranil
Chatterjee from the DuPont Nutrition presented about the protein rich
foods and beverages made by using soy protein isolates and concentrates.
Dr. Uday Annapure discussed about the scope and benefits of extrusion
technology in the Indian food processing sector and about the phenomenal
growth in this segment especially the soy nuggets (Soy Bari) which are
very popular in India. Speaking on the nutritional and functional
properties of the soybean oil Dr. Meena Mehta interpreted about the
nutritional facts of the soybean oil and highlighted its nutritional and
functional properties.
Some of the soy food start-ups shared their experience and the
achievements in the soy food processing sector. Here it is very
important to note that there are more than 2,000 soy food processing
industries are there in India. This segment is growing at a rate of 12%
on an annual basis.
Recently soy food processing has been immersed as a very good source of
creating the employment opportunities on a small, medium and large
scale. India is the fifth largest producer of soybeans but in lack of
awareness on its nutrition and the proper processing technologies this
product is not getting the acceptance in the Indian diet. Although the
soy food processing sector is growing at a faster rate of 12% annually
but still needs to develop with a pace to bridge the protein gap of the
country and soy processing industries should be integrated to the
nutrition intervention program for an easy access of the soy food
products on local as well as regional level. This would be the best way
to provide the low cost nutrition to the masses and creating employment
opportunities through the soy food processing on small, medium and large
scale.
This program was attended by a large number of people from the soy food
industry, trade associations, nutrition professionals, scientists and
professionals from the multinational companies from all over the
country. The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is a dynamic
partnership of key stakeholders representing U.S. soybean producers,
commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses and
agricultural organizations. Through a global network of international
offices and strong support in the U.S., USSEC provides trade and
technical services as well as market access support in order to build a
preference for U.S. soy and soybean products.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
