The United Soybean Board and the Yield Lab Institute have announced the Soy Innovation Challenge winner: Satavie. The aim of the challenge was simple — creating innovations that increase the use and value of soybean meal in existing markets, and Satavie fits the bill.
Satavie was selected out of nearly 80 applicants worldwide for their approach to extracting concentrated soy protein from soybean meals. Their method ensures high digestibility levels, improved nutrient absorption, and increased feed conversion rates ideal for swine, poultry, and aquaculture feed.
As the winner, the company received $100,000 courtesy of the United Soybean Board and $5,000 of in-kind technical services and credits from Amazon Web Services.
“The impact for the soy industry is enormous. Our water extraction patented technique leads to better health outcomes, overall growth, and improved meat quality. It ultimately aids in digestion early on in animal diets to nutritionally set them up for success,” said Satavie President Lasse Jakobsen. “This innovation expands market opportunities and opens up new sectors for U.S. soybean farmers.”
The Soy Innovation Challenge discovers new ways to utilize and add value to U.S. soybeans. This year’s contest focuses on strengthening soybean meal markets as the supply of soybean meal increases. This is primarily due to the growing demand for soybean oil as a renewable energy feedstock.
“In reviewing all the applicants’ proposals and hearing from these forward-thinking finalists, it reiterates that soy can be the solution for so many applications,” said April Hemmes, USB farmer-leader from Iowa, Demand Action Team Chair, and Soy Innovation Challenge judge. “These are four totally different ideas, all using soybean meal. It’s neat to see this sustainable product that U.S. farmers grow bring an added value, which is a great way to invest soy checkoff dollars. Everyone is looking for a sustainable solution these days, and U.S. Soy can be the answer.”
Each finalist received a cash prize, mentoring, and resources to help advance their ideas in technical, business, and financial impact. Finalists include:
- POLARISqb: POLARISqb utilizes quantum computing and artificial intelligence to revolutionize drug design. They are developing a feed additive, specifically a peptide, that makes soymeal feed digestible and nutritious for livestock without relying on costly extraction methods. — First runner-up awarded $50,000.
- SoyKitty: SoyKitty is an innovative pet company that creates premium companion animal products that are safer for people, pets and the planet. Their flagship product will be an eco-friendly, nontoxic cat litter made predominantly from soybean byproducts (spent flakes, carbohydrates, etc.) for eco-conscious cat owners that demand an odor-free household without hurting the planet. — Second runner-up awarded $20,000.
- Ichthus Unlimited: Ichthus Unlimited aims at resolving bottleneck issues for the aquaculture industry and providing solutions for its sustainability and permanence. A key research and development focus of Ichthus is to develop soy-based (from soy hulls) animal feed binders to replace costly alternatives. — Third runner-up awarded $10,000.
The $100,000 awarded to Satavie will be used to scale the company, verify the product in-market (similar to its use in Denmark and Canada) and start to build a customer base in the U.S.
This includes bringing the technology into a facility to start processing U.S. soybean meal and directly creating the soy protein concentrate in the U.S. The prize money for the other finalists will help commercialize their products/technologies to further the use of U.S. soybean meal, driving soy’s reputation as a sustainable ingredient.
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