By Andi Anderson
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has announced the first winners of its SpringBoard Seed Funding Challenge, highlighting the potential of soy-based materials to replace petrochemicals in key industries.
The winners were revealed at the Illinois Innovation Network’s Sustainability Research Conference, hosted at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
The 2025 SpringBoard Challenge focuses on five sustainability categories where soy inputs can reduce reliance on petrochemicals: bioplastics, lubricants, PFAS substitutes, biopolymers, and biofibers.
The initiative, led by ISA’s Soy Innovation Center and co-sponsored by the Illinois Innovation Network, aims to support early-stage innovations that expand the non-food uses of soybeans.
Four research projects were selected by the SpringBoard Technical Review Committee for their potential to create new soy-based solutions:
- Self-Healing Polymers from Soybean Oil – submitted by Kyle Plunkett of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
- Soybealon – a chemo-bio hybrid process for advanced biodegradable polyester amides from soy meal and soy hull, submitted by Saptarshi Ghosh and Lahiru N. Jayakody of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
- Low-Carbon Specialty Lipids – focusing on liquefied soybean hulls, submitted by Junli Liu of Purdue University and Yan Zhang of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
- Novel Rare Earth Extraction Method – using soybean oil and nanoporous micro-ribbons, submitted by Punit Kohli and Annie Vargas of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Todd Main, ISA’s Director of Market Development, said, “Finding new uses for soybeans expands the market potential and will help drive demand in the future, ultimately increasing profitability for farmers.”
By supporting these innovative projects, the Illinois Soybean Association continues to promote sustainable solutions, helping farmers and researchers work together to create eco-friendly materials and open new market opportunities for soybeans well beyond food production.
Photo Credit: illinois-soybean-association
Categories: Illinois, Rural Lifestyle