Image Source: Scripps Health

The Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association (SFPWA) has called for 2026 to be declared the Year of Soy, positioning the humble legume at the centre of India’s nutrition, agriculture, and economic transformation. With protein deficiency affecting more than 90 percent of Indians and pulse imports continuing to put pressure on the national food bill, soy-based foods present a rare alignment of affordability, nutritional value, and environmental resilience.

The call to action comes at a time when global food systems are under increasing stress, and India’s own rural economy is seeking scalable, sustainable solutions. Soya, already cultivated across millions of acres in the country, remains a largely untapped resource in the nation’s food security strategy. Rich in high-quality plant protein and suited for arid and semi-arid cultivation zones, soy represents a powerful lever to meet multiple national priorities—from improving health outcomes to boosting farmer incomes and reducing reliance on imported protein sources.

According to LinkedIn post by Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association, stakeholders are urging a coordinated national effort involving government ministries, research institutions, and food industry stakeholders to bring soy to the centre of public food programmes and consumer diets. From mid-day meals to urban retail shelves, soy-based products like tofu, soy milk, and textured vegetable protein have the potential to become both staples and symbols of India’s next food frontier. At the same time, a push for value-added soy processing in rural India could unlock new livelihood opportunities, encourage agri-entrepreneurship, and strengthen climate-resilient farming systems.

For decades, India has viewed soy primarily as an export commodity or animal feed component. But as the country grapples with rising food inflation and changing dietary needs, soy’s potential as a domestic nutritional anchor is gaining traction. A successful mainstreaming of soy-based foods could reduce the nutritional burden on the state, create durable rural infrastructure, and empower millions of smallholder farmers with access to high-value markets.

As the nation prepares for the demographic and ecological challenges of the coming decade, SFPWA believes 2026 offers a historic window to reimagine India’s protein economy. With the right investments in awareness, innovation, and policy support, soy could evolve from a background crop to a frontline solution—strengthening the country’s food systems from the ground up.