Soybean Checkoff Pulls Forward with Soy Biodiesel Promotion

Checkoff Helps Introduce First Automobile with Soy-Based Interior

Partnership with Ford Motor Company features soy foam seating in the 2008 Ford Mustang

ST. LOUIS (July 20, 2007) –A significant milestone was recently reached with Ford Motor Company’s announcement that soy-based polyurethane foam will be used in seating applications for the 2008 Ford Mustang. For more than a decade now, the United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff have been funding the development of soy-based products and technology. The partnership among soybean farmers and their checkoff, along with Ford and Lear Corporation, helped make flexible foam technology a reality in Ford vehicles.

“Consumers may not realize that petroleum is a major ingredient in auto applications such as seating,”says Todd Allen, USB New Uses chair and a soybean farmer from West Memphis, Ark. “The move by Ford to replace petroleum in auto interiors with soybean oil is revolutionary. Such a move may not only be the start of something big for soybean farmers, but also for America as a whole.”

The soy-based flexible foam, whichuses a small percentage of soy-based polyol in combination with a petroleum polyol,will be incorporated into seat backs and seat cushions in the new Mustang beginning in August. This is done without compromising the durability, stiffness or performance of the foam. Urethane Soy Systems Company (USSC) had a vital part in developing and supplying the soy polyol to Lear Corporation which helped manufacture soy foam for use in the seating applications. Ford and Lear plan to ramp up efforts and increase the percentage of soy in vehicle seats in the near future.

Research is currently underway to develop chemistry to replace even larger amounts of petroleum with soy in the foam for use in future applications. Ford researchers are working to replace 40 percent of the standard petroleum-based polyol with soy-derived material.At this level, using this soy polyurethane is estimated to result in as much as $26 million in annual cost savings for Ford. As for the environmental impact, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), soy polyols have only one-quarter the level of total environmental impact of petroleum-based ingredients.

The soybean checkoff began its partnershipwith Ford in January of 2004 and has contributed funds towards the development of soy foam in seating applications. U.S. soybean farmers will continue to support the success of this product through promotions and special events.

The idea of using soy in Ford’s manufacturing process is nothing new to the American company. The Ford Model T once contained 60 pounds of soybeans in its paint and molded plastic parts. Through years of work with industry partners as well as USB, Ford developed the Model U concept car in 2003, which featured soy-based seat cushions as well as a soy-based resin composite tailgate.

“As we move forward to developa portfolio of sustainable materials that will go into future Ford vehicles, soy- based polyurethane seatsare a great first step and one of many environmental initiatives,”says Matthew Zaluzec, Manager – Ford Materials and Nanotechnology Department. “Working together with USB and our key suppliers, Ford Motor Company's Materials Research efforts will continue to drive biobased and renewable materials into our vehicles as part of our ongoing environmental stewardship.”

USB is made up of 64 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Customer Information Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

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