Missouri County first to adopt SoyFoam firefighting foam
The Boone County (Missouri) Fire Protection District was the first in the state to adopt PFAS-free SoyFoam TF 1122, a groundbreaking, PFAS-free firefighting foam. This innovative, soy-based foam protects firefighter health, supports sustainability, and drives new demand for United States soybeans.
It is the first and only firefighting foam to earn GreenScreen Certified Gold status, an independent recognition by Clean Production Action for safer chemical formulations. Manufactured by Cross Plains Solutions in northwest Georgia, SoyFoam is derived from soy flour, a product of U.S. soybean farmers. Through checkoff funding, America’s soybean producers have supported the research, development, and promotion of this revolutionary foam.
“This switch marks a significant step forward in protecting firefighter health, supporting environmental sustainability, and creating new demand for U.S. soybeans,” according to Missouri Soybeans. The decision to adopt SoyFoam followed extensive performance testing in district equipment and a live demonstration during Missouri Soybeans’ Grain Smart Field Day.
“Learning more about the safety of this foam and then experiencing its performance on actual fires made the switch to SoyFoam TF 1122 an easy decision,” said Gale Blomenkamp, assistant chief with the BCFPD. “We use foam on nearly every fire we extinguish, so safety for our firefighters is paramount.”
BCFPD has already deployed SoyFoam in the field. One of their fire trucks has been fully equipped with the new product and suppressed a residential structure fire over the July 4 weekend. “The foam performed perfectly,” Blomenkamp said. “Knowing that we were leaving the environment as good—or better—than it was when we arrived is a great feeling.”
SoyFoam TF 1122 meets a growing global demand to eliminate harmful per—and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—from firefighting operations. These substances are known to persist in the environment and are linked to a variety of serious health issues, including cancer, thyroid dysfunction, and developmental effects in infants. In contrast, SoyFoam is 100% free of intentionally added PFAS and contains no fluorinated compounds.
“As a farmer and someone who cares about the health of our communities, it’s exciting to see soybean innovation making this kind of impact,” said Russell Wolf, a farmer from Tipton. “SoyFoam isn’t just creating a safer alternative for firefighters—it’s creating new demand for our soybeans and proving that agriculture can be part of real-world solutions.”
“We appreciate Missouri Soybeans and the Boone County Fire Protection District for supporting the demonstration of SoyFoam in Missouri, which led to Boone County’s trials and successful switch,” said Cross Plains Solutions CEO Alan Snipes. “Thanks to checkoff support from both Missouri Soybeans and the United Soybean Board, we’ve brought this product to market and are continuing research into even more applications.”
Current formulations of SoyFoam have the potential to utilize the protein from 12 million bushels of soybeans, expanding opportunities for farmers while promoting safer firefighting. SoyFoam is also certified readily biodegradable by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and 84% biobased through the USDA’s BioPreferred Program.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS contamination has been found in water, air, soil, and wildlife across the globe. The shift to soy-based products like SoyFoam represents meaningful progress—not only in protecting first responders, but in preserving the integrity of our environment and the health of local communities.
