Project SOY Plus
For over 25 years University of Guelph students across varied disciplines, diploma/degree levels, and campuses have been developing new plant-based product concepts and marketing plans, first through Project SOY and later Project SOY Plus. The competition challenges students to innovate using plant-based species and look towards a more sustainable future with more diversified uses and markets for crops.
In 2023, Project SOY Plus evolved to focus on a yearly theme of sustainability centered. For the 2023-2024 year, students will be showcasing projects related to the Circular Economy.
Students may choose to be involved in Project SOY Plus as a competitor (with the chance at cash prizes!) or may apply to help facilitate the competition as a Student Coordinator, while faculty mentors can offer competition teams support and advice.
As well, the competition has grown to include a Creative Stream where students are challenged to create expressive works, imaginative compositions, or creative artworks that explore themes related to the Circular Economy. Submissions are open to works that draw aesthetic, material, and metaphoric lines of connection between the Circular Economy, Innovation, and Research. The scope of submissions is broad and includes sculptures, paintings, prints, mixed media, photography, video art, poetry, written works, plays, and music.
Visit the Research Innovation SharePoint for more information on joining Project SOY Plus.
Project SOY Plus Legacy
Project SOY Plus has been proud to partner with several innovative organizations throughout its history. These partnerships highlight our community's passion for a sustainable future, both through exploring new product and market opportunities, and in connecting with and developing a future workforce with the skills and mindset to tackle challenges.
Plant-based innovations are important. We need these options, and even for products that already exist on the market, there’s always something that can be done better. This kind of competition really encourages people to think outside the box and look at what’s available and try to think of another way to do it.
Past Winners
Undergraduate Category
- Jack Krempulec, Bridget Neilson, Emery Soos, Sara Warner, YOU-tensils, brief description (Prof. Laura Brown, Geography, Environment and Geomatics)
Graduate Category
- Daniel Pulcina and Hanxiao Wu, Microalgae, brief description, (Prof. Yang Xu, Molecular and Cellular Biology)
- Anushka Massey, Arshia Shireen, Jessica Ulbikas, Nutri-Secure, brief description (Prof. William Bettger, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences)
Diploma Category
- Nicole Hiddema: ECO OSB, environmentally conscious oriented strand boards made from corn crop debris (Prof. Mike Gladstone, Plant Agriculture)
Undergraduate Category
- Tiffany Siu, Kaylie Mitchell, Wanxin Xue, and Laura Hanley: The Green Duck, a plant-based protein chip made of duckweed and spent greens (Prof. Lisa Duzier, Food Science)
- Nicole Harder, Jeffrey Lim, Susan Debevc: A-maize-ing Bio Blisters, biodegradable and plant-based blister packages (Prof. Manjusri Misra, Engineering and Amar Mohanty, Plant Agriculture)
- Olivia Lennon: Protégo, an all-natural cream designed specifically for use on tattoos with functional and environmental benefits (Prof. Lisa Duzier, Food Science)
Graduate Category
- Brooke Adams, Karlie Pluim, Kyra Scott and Rachel von Holt: FemmeBotanique, a woman-owned non-alcoholic functional gin beverage (Prof. William Bettger, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences)
- Peter Zytner, Ehsan Pasaranhajiabbas, Fatemeh Jahangiri and Aarsha Surendren: Sentinel Packaging - DropDeter, a biodegradable alternative to shock indicators to protect packages and shipment (Prof. Manjusri Misra, Engineering and Amar Mohanty, Plant Agriculture)
Diploma Category
- Jackson Taylor, Jamie Herrington, Joseph Gruber and Tyler Curtis: THCV Products, THC-infused dietary dietary supplement (Prof. Chris Gillard, Plant Agriculture)
Undergraduate Category
- Olivia Lennon and Sayan Ladhani: SOY Salve, anti-chafing cream (Prof. Lisa Duizer, Food Science)
- Abbey Chan, Hanika Saini, Hillary Lo and Krupa Thakkar: Soy-aids, biodegradable bandage (Prof. Loong-Tak Lim, Food Science)
- Peter Zytner: SOYL Sustainable Products, utensils (Prof. Manjusri Misra, Engineering and Plant Agrilculture and Prof. Amar Mohanty, Engineering)
Graduate Category
- Dominique Mastronardi and ThiênAn Gillespie: Culture Plant - Chickpea Yogurt (Prof. Manickavasagan Annamalai, Engineering)
- Aarsha Surendren and Benjamin Maldonado: Soja Eyewear - 3D Printed Glasses (Prof. Manjusri Misra, Engineering and Plant Agrilculture and Prof. Amar Mohanty, Engineering)
Diploma Category
- Riley Sharp, B-GON Biodegradable Plastic Mulch, a plastic mulch made from corn and potato starch that biodegrades after eight weeks (Prof. Chris Gillard, Department of Plant Agriculture)
- Christel Andrade, Soybean’s ‘Miracle’ Facemask, an economical and effective plant-based product (Prof. Milad Eskandari, Plant Agriculture)
- Michael Cushing, Jug-o-Juglone, a herbicide using a phytotoxic chemical from black walnut (Prof. Mike Gladstone, Plant Agriculture)
Undergraduate Category
- Domenique Mastronardi, Happy Waffle, a plant-based toaster waffle created with juice pulp, potatoes and soybeans (Prof. Mario Martinez, School of Engineering)
- Loretta Higgins and Amanda Crerar, Buriderm, a plant-based hydrogel (Prof. William Bettger, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences)
- Sharon Dadhwal and Nicole Goetz, ChocoBitez, a plant-based, creamy chocolate (Prof. Evan Fraser, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics)
Graduate Category
- Anupjot Brar, Aryana Rabii, Benjamin MacLeod, Gabriel Laplante, Harshina Brijlall, Jacob Insley, Ryan Cranwill, Schnell D'Souza, Sonja Andrekovic, Stephanie Lim and Trung Hoang, Embrace BioPad, a biodegradable menstrual pad made from soy-based textiles and super-absorbent polymers (Profs. Alison Duncan, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, and Elliot Currie, Department of Management)
- Maisyn Picard, Kjeld Meereboer and Mateo Gonzalez de Gortari, Green Egg Paper, a sustainable stone paper product (Profs. Manjusri Misra, School of Engineering, and Amar Mohanty, Plant Agriculture)
- Tara Allohverdi and Mary Hedrick, AgroLife Bio, a biochar soil amendment using agricultural wastes (Profs. Misra, Mohanty and Istvan Rajcan, Plant Agriculture)
Diploma Category
- Riley Sharp, SOS Skincare, a soy-based exfoliant (Prof., Dept.)
- Noah Weber, SOY Punch, a Caribbean-style beverage (Prof., Dept.)
Undergraduate Category
- Timothy Shuh, Mitchell Rice and Sean Mitchell, 5th Bean, a soybean cream liqueur (Prof., Dept.)
- Alyssa Francavilla, Carmen Tan and Stephanie Wong, Team/Project Name, an Okara flour innovation (Prof., Dept.)
- Tara Allohverdi and Elizabeth Diederichs, Soyscreen, a soy-based sunscreen (Prof., Dept.)
Graduate Category
- Bruno Bottega Pergher, Maisyn Picard and Mateo Gonzalez de Gortari, Soyfit, an edible soy protein isolate (Prof., Dept.)
- Miguel Fuentes, Kjeld Meereboer, Mawath Qahtani and Gareth Chapman, Soy Tips, biodegradable soy protein-based hygiene products (Prof., Dept.)
