Soybean Industry Works on Everyday Goods Innovations

The United Soybean Board is made up of 77 volunteer farmer members representing 29 states and they are the board responsible for managing the Soybean Checkoff Program and the funds it generates. Rod Hahn was appointed by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack back in November and serves on the USB innovation and technology committee.

“Improving the genetics of the soybean plant and how we help the farmers grow the soybeans to marketing. And so that's our emphasis in a workgroup.

Hahn says there is a subcommittee within this committee that he is a part of.

“The other part of the innovation and technology is the demand and the demand part of that committee then put the product after the soybean being installed and I'd work on the product that has probably been being made and the demand for that and like export and meal and ratios for animals and oil for the asphalt and oil for clothing and oil for the basketball shoes and stuff like that. That's what they they they work on that aspect of it.”

According to the USB website, the organization works to create value by investing checkoff dollars in infrastructure and connectivity, health and nutrition, and innovation and technology. As a board member, Hahn represents 13 Western states.