Across local fire departments and state agencies, SoyFoam’s feel-good story is spreading throughout Minnesota.  

This spring, the farmer-led Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) launched the soy checkoff-supported SoyFoam campaign, “Planting to Protect: From Farm to Flame.” The Council is offering more than 40 organized soybean counties in Minnesota the opportunity to donate SoyFoam to area fire departments, and the Watonwan County Corn & Soybean Growers are getting in on the action by donating one SoyFoam pail each to the St. James, Madelia, Lewisville, Odin, Ormsby, Butterfield, Darfur and LaSalle Fire Departments.  

“Local fire departments were excited to receive SoyFoam as a safer, more sustainable option for fighting Class A and B fires,” said Watonwan County Corn and Soybean Chair Tom Eng. “Not only is it free of toxic chemicals, but it also cuts down on cleanup time and cost compared to traditional foam. It’s another great example of how checkoff-funded research is creating new uses for soybeans that benefit both people and the planet.” 

Made with soy flour, SoyFoam is the first and only Greenscreen Certified Gold Fire Foam with zero intentionally added PFAS, aka forever chemicals. Firefighters have a nearly 10% higher chance of a cancer diagnosis, and cancer is the number 1 cause of death among firefighters. Cross Plains Solutions, the developer of SoyFoam, has partnered with the soy checkoff to continue testing and promoting the product as a safer alternative to traditional firefighting foam.  

“For our soybean farmers, your checkoff investment is helping out the environment and the firefighters who use it,” said Council Director Tom Frisch, who has served on the Dumont Fire Department since 2000. “It’s a checkoff investment that is coming to fruition and helping build demand. For our firefighters, rural, city or anywhere in Minnesota, providing a PFAS-free alternative is our goal. For the public in general, homegrown, renewable products benefit all of us.” 

SoyFoam is compatible with existing foam inductors and aerating nozzles and is comparable in cost to traditional firefighting foam. With a shelf life of 10 years, SoyFoam can be frozen, heated and thawed and will still be fully functional.  

“We really appreciate everyone who brought SoyFoam to the fire departments,” said Seth Basmoen, Watonwan County Fire and EMS Group president. “We’re excited to try a foam that works on both Class A and Class B fires and is also safer for the environment with no forever chemicals.”  

For more information on the “Planting to Protect: From Farm to Flame” campaign, visit mnsoybean.org/soyfoam.  

About the Watonwan County Corn and Soybean Growers 

The Watonwan County Corn & Soybean Growers Board is affiliated with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, a 15-person, farmer-led board that oversees the investment of checkoff dollars on behalf of the state’s nearly 26,000 soybean farmers. The Council is governed by the rules of a federally mandated checkoff program requiring all soybean producers to pay a fee on the soybeans they sell. This money is used to promote, educate and develop market opportunities for soybeans.