Project SOY Competition Winners Named
March 30, 2011 - News Release
A soy-based peptide and flavour-filled soybean wafers were among the winners at this year’s Project SOY (Soybean Opportunities for Youth) competition.
The 15th annual event, held today at the Government of Ontario building at One Stone Rd., showcased a record number of projects with a total of 67 University of Guelph student participants on 23 teams.
Other entrants included soy-based brownies, soy shot (for shotgun shells), soy lip gloss and face wash, and a gluten-free coating made from soy for chicken tenders.
In Project SOY, cash prizes are awarded to students representing the University of Guelph and its regional campuses at Alfred, Kemptville and Ridgetown in two categories: diploma and undergraduate/graduate. First place wins $2,500; second place, $1,000; and third place, $500.
In the diploma category, first place went to food science students Samuel Nyandwi and Gaétan Bourbonnais of Alfred Campus for developing Soys. These wafers with flavoured soy filling are high in protein and contain no gluten or sugar.
Second prize in this category was won by Alfred food science student Lugi Stephano Bikoroti for Soy Bread. Third place went to Alfred food science student Riad Rihane for creating Soysage.
Topping the undergraduate/graduate entries was ProteinX, created by Guelph food science student Dref De Moura. ProteinX is a cholesterol-lowering functional food made using computer-aided design techniques and intended for consumers with chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease.
Second place in this category was awarded to biological engineering graduate student Vidhya Nagarajan for developing Gmax Paperworks. Third place went to first-year landscape architecture student Andrew Naylor for creating a soy fabric called Azlear.
At an open house before the awards ceremony held by University of Guelph president Alastair Summerlee, students discussed their projects with other students, faculty, industry representatives and guests.
“We congratulate the students for their enthusiasm, hard work and great ideas,” said Jaye Atkins, vice-president, strategic development, for Grain Farmers of Ontario, one of the Project SOY sponsors. “The introduction the students have to the research and product development process in this program gives them superb transferable skills.”
Project SOY is also sponsored by DEKALB Brand Seeds, SOY 20/20, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Contact:
Owen Roberts
Director, Research Communications
519-824-4120, Ext. 58278
owen@uoguelph.ca
Alicia Scott
Student Co-ordinator
519-824-4120, Ext. 53511
soybeans@uoguelph.ca
