A 95% soybean-sourced adhesive tape, called SoySeal, earned the $20,000 grand prize in the 32^nd annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition, a partnership between the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), the state’s soybean checkoff program, and Purdue University. ISA awarded more than $35,000 to four teams that created new products in the industry track. To win these competitions, Purdue students had to develop innovative applications for soybeans.

“ISA looks forward to working with Purdue students each year and seeing what unique products they create,” said ISA Board Chair Denise Scarborough, a farmer from La Crosse, Indiana. “The goal of this competition is to highlight the versatility of soybeans while seeking to solve a need in agriculture or the general public. The products developed by these students showcase new possibilities for how soybeans can be used and the value they can bring. We are excited about SoySeal and MiSoy Pan.”

SoySeal is a reliable, soy-based alternative to traditional petroleum-based packing adhesive tape. Designed with an adhesive layer on one side and plastic on the other, SoySeal provides strength, durability and versatility while remaining environmentally responsible. The tape was created by Purdue University students Jocelyn Erickson, Elizabeth Heckaman and Kasey Wright.

In 2024, industry sources said the biodegradable tape market was valued at $1.2 billion, and it is projected to reach $2.8 billion by 2033. The adhesive tape market, at large, is an $80.2 billion industry that is expected to exceed $127.5 billion in 2032.

“By entering a high-growth, multi-billion-dollar space with a 95 percent soy-derived alternative, our product unlocks a scalable opportunity in a high-value market while promoting Indiana’s soybean industry,” Erickson said. “At the same time, it addresses one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges, reducing the accumulation of microplastics in both our ecosystems and the human body.”

The SoySeal team said many biodegradable tape options struggle to maintain strong adhesion under wet or humid conditions. SoySeal remains sticky even after exposure to water and repeated hand washing. The team said SoySeal combines the environmental benefits of plant-based materials with the practical reliability expected from industrial-grade tape.

The Indiana Soybean Alliance works to enhance the viability of Indiana soybean farmers through the effective and efficient investment of soybean checkoff funds that protect and promote the interest of Indiana soybean farmers. The ISA works to assist soybean farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement. ISA is led by an elected, farmer board that directs investments of the soybean checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana soybean farmers. Learn more at incornandsoy.org.