Necessity of sustainable food system stressed

Right To Protein, a protein awareness initiative, recently started celebrating the global annual ‘Soy Month’ to highlight the significance and necessity of sustainable food systems and protein-rich diets.

The annual Soy Month is celebrated in April to further educate everyone about the benefits of soy in its many forms, dispel myths, and highlight its potential for improving protein consumption and nutrition in our diets.

With the focus on highlighting the role soybeans play in increasing sustainable food systems and protein-rich diets, the initiative is inviting all stakeholders to join in increasing awareness and understanding about the benefits of soy, soy-based foods, and soy-fed animal sources of protein such as poultry and aqua, reads a press release.

Protein deficiency is a significant health issue in Bangladesh with consequences for development and health. The prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in Bangladesh is around 17 per cent higher than the global average of 13 per cent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Soy-based food sources address this issue by providing a high-quality, plant-based protein source for consumption. The key to improving the protein status of the population and achieving nutrition security is to promote food innovation and mass education, according to the activists of the initiative.

Soybeans are a versatile and nutrient-dense legume, with a range of health benefits. Soy foods are the only plant-based source of protein containing all nine essential amino acids, making them an ideal option for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, stated the Right To Protein statement.

Celebrating Soy Month in April will encourage research and development of soybeans and create more opportunities for farmers in Bangladesh. This will help create a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy food system; therefore, the industry should join this initiative, the statement added.

Soy has the potential to help citizens meet their protein requirements and to achieve nutrition security. For instance, soybean oil is considered healthier than many other affordable vegetable oils, while soy foods provide rich plant-based protein with all nine essential amino acids. The soy feed also makes animal protein sources richer in their protein content, it said.

Soy Month also aims to promote the role of soy in sustainable agriculture and food production and encourage greater consumption of these nutritious foods and promote sustainable agricultural practices that benefit both farmers and consumers, said the press release.