VOL. 6, No. 2, June, 1999

In This Issue

From the Director's Desk

The date for Global Soy Forum '99 is rapidly approaching. This groundbreaking event, which includes the Sixth World Soybean Research Conference, will be held in Chicago from August 4 to 7, 1999. Of course, we all are quite excited about the support we have received in planning this event and the interest so many people have expressed about attending.

As NSRL Director, I have the exciting opportunity of interacting with users of soy research, public and private sector constituents who support soy research, and soy researchers themselves. The diverse program planned for Global Soy Forum '99 clearly reflects the fact that today is a tremendously interesting time to be involved in the world of soy research. The opportunities and the challenges we face certainly are daunting and complex. At the same time, the potentials for social gain and personal fulfillment are equally significant. A central feature of the future soy research system is that researchers will need both to master the detailed complexity of their scientific specialty and to increase their knowledge of how their area of expertise interacts within the broader soy industry complex.

Global Soy Forum '99 has been designed with those challenges in mind. In fact, all soy decision makers, not just researchers alone, require detailed expertise regarding specific components of the system and considerable understanding of how the entire system works. That is why Global Soy Forum '99 encompasses more than just one set of presentations and papers.

Examination and dialogue regarding the forces that will determine future demand and supply in the world are central to Global Soy Forum '99. Critical forces such as population growth, trade, technology and societal response to technology, new opportunities for soy foods, and structural change in agriculture, also will be emphasized. In addition, Global Soy Forum '99 will integrate two successful and established meetings with three innovative, first-time initiatives:

• World Soybean Research Conference VI—an international meeting of more than 600 soybean scientists.
• Midwest Soybean Conference 4—an annual conference focusing on producer- oriented topics.
• Soy in Animal Nutrition Symposium— a research conference featuring the latest developments in the use of soy in animal feeds.
• Focus on Soy Foods—the emerging role of soy foods will be featured during the entire event, including the Soy Symposium, which will be an all-day event sponsored by the United Soybean Board.
• Knowledge Management Center—a forum for providing hands on experience with the latest developments in information technology applied to the soybean industry.

Global Soy Forum '99 will provide participants with the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about the key strategic issues shaping the future of agriculture, while expanding their detailed knowledge in specific areas of work and expertise. Of course, that result is far from easy to accomplish. It is, however, the task that all of us in the sector must strive to achieve if we are to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the future world of soybeans.

More specific information about the event's program, affiliated activities, and registration procedures can be found at http://www.gsf99.uiuc.edu or by contacting me at the NSRL mailing address included in this newsletter or by e-mail at nsrl@uiuc.edu.

The NSRL Bulletin is published three times a year by the National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, 170 Environmental and Agricultural Sciences Building, 1101 W. Peabody Drive, Urbana, IL 61801; telephone (217)244-1706; e-mail nsrl@uiuc.edu; FAX (217)244-1707. Steven T. Sonka, director; Robert J. Wynstra, editor; David Riecks, photographer; Lynn Hawkinson Smith, graphic designer.

Unless otherwise stated, articles may be reproduced or quoted if credit is given to the NSRL Bulletin. The National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois is an affirmative action and equal opportunity institution.