News

Soy-based firefighting foam looking to expand in Ohio

Photo provided by the Ohio Soybean Council.

The deputy executive director of the Ohio Soybean Council says the group is working to increase the adoption of soy-based firefighting foam across the state.

Brandon Kern says SoyFoam, developed by Cross Plains Solutions through United Soybean Board checkoff funds, offers fire departments a safer solution.

“SoyFoam is designed to be completely biodegradable and free of PFAS or forever chemicals that a lot of people are hearing about that are a major problem when it comes to soil and water contamination,” he says.

He tells Brownfield the product could be a new market opportunity for soybean growers. 

“The last several years we have been really successful in developing products that use soy as an input,” he says. “For farmers, that investment is going to help drive demand for their product in the future.”

Kern says the organization has approved some funds to help offset its costs.

“If fire departments want to purchase and replace their existing stocks of firefighting foam with the soy-based product, we’re going to have a program to help them financially with that,” he says.

SoyFoam is the first and only firefighting foam to be certified GreenScreen gold status for meeting safety and environmental standards.

AUDIO: Brandon Kern, Ohio Soybean