State Partners with Soybean Industry to Eliminate Forever Chemicals While Supporting Local Agriculture
Environmental Innovation | Pierre, South Dakota | November 10, 2025
In a groundbreaking initiative combining environmental protection with agricultural innovation, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has launched a statewide program to replace PFAS-containing firefighting foam with a revolutionary soy-based alternative. The partnership with the South Dakota Soybean Checkoff aims to eliminate harmful “forever chemicals” from firefighting operations while boosting demand for locally grown soybeans.
The Forever Chemical Crisis in Firefighting
For decades, firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been the industry standard for combating fires, particularly those involving flammable liquids. However, these “forever chemicals” pose severe environmental and health risks that have become impossible to ignore.
PFAS compounds persist indefinitely in the environment, contaminating soil and groundwater. More alarmingly, they’ve been linked to elevated cancer rates among firefighters who regularly handle these foams. The chemicals’ resistance to degradation means that contamination from decades-old firefighting training exercises continues to threaten water supplies today.
The Exchange Program: Trading Toxic for Sustainable
Under the new initiative, fire departments across South Dakota can voluntarily surrender their existing PFAS-based firefighting foam in exchange for 5-gallon containers of SoyFoam—a cutting-edge, soy-based alternative developed with partial funding from the Soybean Checkoff.
The exchange program is designed to help departments maintain operational readiness while dramatically reducing their environmental footprint.
“The partnership for PFAS foam collection and SoyFoam exchange with the South Dakota Soybean Checkoff is crucial to protecting our state’s natural resources,” said Secretary Hunter Roberts. “By working with local fire departments, we can safely collect and destroy PFAS materials before they become an environmental threat.”
SoyFoam: A Game-Changing Innovation
Developed by Cross Plains Solutions with support from U.S. soybean farmers through checkoff funding, SoyFoam represents a major breakthrough in firefighting technology. Its impressive specifications include:
Environmental Safety
- 100% PFAS-free with no intentionally added forever chemicals
- 84% biobased content
- Certified as readily biodegradable
- GreenScreen Certified Gold level—the first and only firefighting foam to achieve this prestigious environmental designation
Firefighter Protection
- Less than 1 part per billion detectable fluorine content
- Significantly safer for firefighters to handle
Operational Effectiveness
- Effective against both Class A fires (ordinary combustibles) and Class B fires (flammable liquids)
- Compatible with existing foam inductors and aerating nozzles
- Requires no changes to standard operating procedures
- Seamless transition for fire departments
Jerry Schmitz, executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Checkoff, emphasized the dual benefits: “The South Dakota Soybean Checkoff Board values its partnership with DANR in providing local firefighters SoyFoam, a product developed through research funded by the Soybean Checkoff. SoyFoam is safe for firefighters to use, environmentally friendly, and helps build demand for soybeans grown by South Dakota farm families.”
Safe Collection and Disposal
Over the coming weeks, DANR’s Inspection, Compliance, and Remediation Division will coordinate the complex logistics of collecting PFAS-containing foam from participating departments. All materials will be safely transported and properly destroyed at approved facilities, preventing environmental release.
The strong participation from fire departments across the state—who volunteered earlier this year—demonstrates the firefighting community’s commitment to safer, more sustainable practices.
Building on Proven Success
This marks South Dakota’s second large-scale PFAS foam collection effort. In 2020, DANR successfully gathered 3,875 gallons of PFAS-containing foam from 36 fire departments and one airport, establishing a template for the current initiative.
Results from the 2025 collection effort will be released after all participating departments have been serviced, likely showing even greater participation and volume.
Multiple Benefits: Environment, Health, and Economy
The program delivers advantages across multiple sectors:
Environmental Protection
- Prevents soil and groundwater contamination
- Reduces long-term cleanup costs associated with PFAS disposal
- Protects ecosystems from persistent chemical pollution
Public Health
- Shields firefighters from cancer-linked chemical exposure
- Safeguards drinking water supplies for communities
- Reduces health risks for future generations
Economic Development
- Creates demand for South Dakota-grown soybeans
- Supports local agricultural economy
- Demonstrates farm-to-fire innovation linking agriculture and public safety
Operational Excellence
- Maintains firefighting effectiveness
- Requires no retraining or equipment changes
- Provides sustainable solution for the long term
National Leadership in Sustainable Firefighting
As federal agencies including the Department of Defense and U.S. Forest Service evaluate PFAS-free alternatives, South Dakota’s proactive approach positions the state as a national leader in sustainable firefighting practices.
The partnership between DANR and the South Dakota Soybean Checkoff serves as a model for how agricultural innovation can address critical public health and environmental challenges. It demonstrates that environmental protection and economic development need not be competing priorities—they can advance together.
“This effort meets the mission of DANR and South Dakota’s commitment to protect and preserve our natural resources,” the department stated, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the initiative.
A Blueprint for Other States
South Dakota’s success could provide a roadmap for other states grappling with PFAS contamination from firefighting operations. The program proves that effective alternatives exist and that transitions can be managed smoothly without compromising firefighter safety or operational capability.
As awareness of PFAS dangers continues to grow, initiatives like South Dakota’s demonstrate that practical solutions are available now—solutions that protect both people and the planet while supporting local economies.
The message is clear: the era of forever chemicals in firefighting can end, and agriculture may hold the key to a cleaner, safer future.
Sources:
- South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources official news release, November 10, 2025
- Additional reporting from DRGNews, Go Watertown, and KXLG-Pierre
