The 10^th Soy Seminar for Social and Government Programs in Latin America was held June 27-28 in Cancun, Mexico.  The event was organized by USSEC staff Francisco de la Torre and Nayeli Vilanova together with USSEC consultants Adela Pérez and Julio Chaves.  The goal of this activity is to continue the promotion of the use of soy protein and soybean oil in social and government programs.  Approximately 100 key decision makers representing government, social agencies and private industry from Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Guatemala attended this seminar.

The event consisted of twenty sessions covering such topics as biotechnology; health and successful experiences on the uses of soyfoods; and soyfood nutrition in social and government programs.  A soyfood exhibition was also included in which ten soyfood companies, two soybean oil producers and the Mexican Soyfoods Association participated.
Participants in this event obtained greater awareness of the uses of soy; the availability of soyfoods; technical knowledge of soybeans; motivation to include soy in their programs; and confidence in soyfoods.  Attendees also made new business contacts with the hopes of developing fresh strategies.  This seminar was a successful demand building activity for U.S. soybeans.  USSEC utilizes this annual seminar to continue working with government and social agencies in the region to demonstrate the health and nutritional advantages obtained by incorporating U.S. soy into their food programs.