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Sparking creativity with corn and soybeans

Purdue University students were challenged to create new, innovative products using corn and soybeans. 

The annual Student Soybean and Corn Innovation Contest, sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council, not only teaches students how to be innovative entrepreneurs – it also encourages students to think about these two staple grains in an outside of the box way. 

Alex Parobek of the winning corn team developed a biodegradable firework casing called Sky Maize, “made from corn cob ground components and soy protein adhesives that combined the biodegradable properties of both corn and soybeans in one product,” he says.  “It would benefit the fireworks market in both price and its application.”

 AUDIO: Alex Parobek, Sky Maize (8:11mp3)

The winning soybean team created a soy protein fiber insulation called Nature Loft.  Team member Anshu Gupta explains.  “This can be used in most outdoor products like jackets, gloves, boots, blankets, and etc.,” he says.  Nature Loft also won the People’s Choice Award.

 AUDIO: Anshu Gupta, Nature Loft (5:52mp3)

Each winning team received a $20,000 prize for their work. 

Team members of Sky Maize are:  Alexander Parobek of Munster, Ind., a junior majoring in chemistry; Jake Hoeing of Rushville, Ind., a junior in agriculture systems management; Polina Navotnaya of  Tashkent, Usbekistan, a junior in chemistry and biochemistry; and Rachel Clayton of Greenwood, Ind., a junior in chemistry.

Team members of Nature Loft are:  Anshu Gupta of Chennai, India, a third-year doctoral student in chemical engineering, and John Grace of Hudson, Ohio, and Solwoo Kim of Seoul, South Korea, both seniors in management.

The teams were recognized Wednesday evening in downtown Indianapolis.

Brownfield’s Ken Anderson contributed to this report.