Seminar on Soy Foods Concludes with Crucial Recommendations to Boost Production,

Consumption, Improved Health and Entrepreneurship in India

Over the few decades, soy foods have been accepted as a mainstream food product especially as a
protein source in every day diet across the country. The recently concluded two day International
Conference on "Soy Foods : Sustainable Protein for Health and Wellness" brought together experts,
industry professionals, and government officials to discuss crucial aspects of soybean production and
consumption in India. The conference, held on 22-23 June 2023 in Indore, resulted in significant
recommendations aimed at promoting the production, consumption, and promotion of soy food
products in the country.

Production Recommendations:

The conference acknowledged that while India has become a prominent producer and consumer of
soybeans, the available varieties are not optimized for the production of value-added soy-based
food products. To address this, the following recommendations were made:

 Promote soy as a sustainable source of protein for food use.

 Encourage research institutes to develop and commercialize soybean varieties tailored for
specific end uses.
 Permit the import of specialty food-grade soybeans at concessional rates until locally
developed varieties are available.

Consumption Recommendations:

Recognizing the nutritional benefits of soybean as a high-quality protein source, the conference
emphasized the need to incorporate soybean products into nutrition intervention programs. The
recommendations for promoting soybean consumption include:

 Promote the general consumption of soy derivatives as human food.

 Distribute soy grits/flour/textured soy protein/soy-based lentils (dal) alternatives through
the Public Distribution System (PDS).
 Include soy products (soymilk, tofu, textured soy protein, soy nuts) in Mid-Day Meal (MDM)
and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programs.
 Consider enriching fortified rice kernels with additional soy protein.

Soy Food Products Promotion Recommendations:

The versatility of soybeans offers an array of value-added products that can provide healthy food
options and employment opportunities. To promote value-added soy food products, the following
recommendations were put forth:

 Focus on the development of new products from soybeans.

 Establish soy incubation centers to support potential entrepreneurs.
 Encourage soy flour fortification in wheat flour through chakkis (flour mills).
 Develop technologies for the complete utilization of soybeans.
 Provide financial support for new and innovative technologies in India.
  Ensure preparedness of the soy food industry to meet government expectations on
processing capacity and quality.

Government Support Recommendations:

The soy food industry, primarily consisting of small and medium-scale enterprises, requires
government support to thrive. The recommendations for government support include:

 Establish standards for soy food products and appropriate nomenclature.

 Include a Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association (SFPWA) nominee as a member of
standards/scientific committees for soy foods.
 Address corrections to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) tofu
standards.
 Provide clarity on Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for soy foods.
 Reduce custom duty on soybean imports.
 Seek health claims from the Government of India through the Ministry of Health.
 Support generic campaigns to popularize soy food consumption through print and electronic
media.
 Include soy protein ingredients in the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The recommendations from the "Soy Foods - Sustainable Protein for Health and Wellness"
conference hold immense potential for enhancing soybean production, consumption, and the
growth of the soy food industry in India. The Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association (SFPWA)
looks forward to working closely with industry stakeholders and government bodies to implement
these recommendations and drive positive changes in the soy sector.