Speakers have said that Soybean is one of the most valuable crops in the world and has great potential for human food use because of their high level of protein, its functional & nutritional properties. There is need to create awareness among the farming community about the benefits and urged agriculture scientists to play role in promotion of soybean crop in the country to save huge foreign exchange that is being spent on the import of soybean oil.

They stated this on a seminar “Soy in improving Human Health” held at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Friday. On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR was the chief guest while Mr. David William Agricultural Counselor of US Embassy Pakistan was the guest of Honor.

The seminar was organized by PMAS-AAUR Department of Food Technology in collaboration with American Soybean Association (ASA) & World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), with an aim to promote this crop in the country and save foreign exchange on the import of soybean oil and meal.

Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR, while, addressing on the occasion highlighted the importance of soybean. He said it is the richest source of quality protein for livestock and human consumption. He also assured full support to propagate and improve its industrial processing. Vice Chancellor also paid special thanks to representatives of different organizations and participants of the seminar. At the end he presented souvenirs to the guest speakers of the seminar.

Dr. Mindy S. Kurzer, Prof. of Medicine & Nutrition, Director of Healthy Foods, Healthy Live Institute , University of Minnesota USA in his lecture briefly explained the functional and nutritional potential of Soy. She stated that Soy is a miracle food as it has health benefits on post menopause, breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and cholesterol on the basis of clinical studies.

Mr. David William Agricultural Counselor of US Embassy Pakistan in his address highlighted that food security issue can be resolved by soy and its products.  Mr. David William Agricultural Counselor of US Embassy Pakistan and Dr. Mindy S. Kurzer, Prof. of Medicine & Nutrition, Director of Healthy Foods, Healthy Live Institute, University of Minnesota USA also planted a tree in University premises.  Mr. R.S.N. Janjua, Country Representative of ASA/WISHH in his address, elaborated the world wide utilization of Soy and aims and objective of the seminar.

Earlier, Prof. Dr. Tariq Masud, Chairman Department of Food Technology of PMAS-AAUR, welcome the participants of seminar and briefly introduced the  achievements of Departments.He informed the gathering about generated cheap innovative technology to increase the storage life of different food commodities like tomato, mango potato etc. He also informed the gathering about a plant based coagulant for the preparation of halal cheese and department future plans.