You may not realize it, but your daily life is touched by this legume. What starts as a tiny seed becomes part of thousands of products that we use every day.
Long before written records existed, the soybean was a significant crop in East Asia. It 
didn’t make its appearance in the United States until it was introduced by a former sailor of the East India Company in the 18th century. Over the next several hundred years, the nutritional benefits and uses of the soybean made it an emerging farm crop. In 2019, more than 80 million acres of soybeans were planted in the U.S., making it our second most important crop. Approximately 48 percent of U.S. soybeans are exported to countries like China, Mexico, and Europe. And, it’s value to the U.S. economy is approximately $40 billion – a mighty achievement for a small bean!
How it’s processed
Soybeans are a species of legume grown for its edible bean. Soybeans are about
19 percent oil, and 36 percent protein. Soybeans are highly nutritious and contain as much protein as milk, meat, and eggs as well as all the important essential amino acids.
Farmers sell their soybeans to a grain dealer, who then sells the beans to processors for many different uses. According to the Oilseed and Grain News organization, approximately 85 percent of the world’s soybeans are processed or ‘crushed’ annually into soybean meal and oil. About 98 percent of the soybean meal that is crushed is further processed into animal feed. Of the oil part, 95 percent is consumed as edible oil; the rest is used for industrial products such as soaps and biodiesel.
From salad dressings to floor polish, soybeans are everywhere
Soybeans are a versatile crop that makes its appearance in everything from pies to paints. In a previous blog post, we discussed the many uses of soybeans. In the few short years that we published that blog post, many new innovative uses of soybeans have been brought to market. This is partly due to the fact that soybeans offer manufacturers a way to replace petroleum-based materials in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.
Coming to asphalt near you
Asphalt roads may get an overhaul thanks to a relatively new type of soybean or more specifically its oil. High oleic soybean oil has been found to outperform other petroleum and formaldehyde-based lubricants in asphalt applications. This is just one of the many uses that the innovation of high oleic soybeans has brought to the market.
A new choice for your motor oil
For a more renewably sourced motor oil for your vehicle, try the new high oleic high-performing biobased synthetic motor oil. In testing, the oil provided improved fuel efficiency and cleaner engines when compared to the petroleum-based oil previously used.
Tires with better traction
Soybean oil is leading the way to greener tires with improved performance. Goodyear has introduced tires made with soybean oil that improve your traction in inclement weather.
A sustainable source for artificial turfs
United Soybean Board
One company is producing the first USDA-certified, bio-based artificial turf using soy technology. This new technology has reduced water use and lowered landfill impact through the product’s extended life cycle, and the product is 100 percent recyclable.
The house that soy built
Building companies are enjoying the versatility of soybean uses in home materials. Several new products include formaldehyde-free plywood panels, a roof-rejuvenating spray treatment, a soy-based stain line, and an environmentally friendly insulation.
Shoes made with soy
This company was looking for a way to make their shoes in a more environmentally friendly manner but still meet their product specifications. They also desired a source that’s available anytime in the quantity they need. Okahashi shoes found their next innovation in soybeans.
You’re sitting on soybeans
Ford Motor Company uses soybean-based foam in its seat cushions, seat backs, an
United Soybean Board
headrests of every vehicle built in North America. Ford now also licenses its soy-based flexible foam to John Deere for seating materials in tractors, riding mowers, and other equipment.
The Soy Products Guide provides a listing of more than 1,000 items currently on the market. The innovative uses for soybeans continue to increase each year. It’s exciting to see how one product can be the answer to a more renewable source for a multitude of products.
One step further – connecting soybeans to the classroom
Most students these days live in towns and are far removed from the times their families may have been on the farm. Many students would likely be surprised to learn about the use of crops such as soybeans they use in their daily lives. Our future quality of life will depend on having agriculturally literate consumers. Through Agriculture in the Classroom efforts and teachers bringing agriculture into their classrooms, we can show students how agriculture plays a role in their everyday life.
The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation offers many educational resources related to soybeans for use in classrooms. Search our website for lesson plans, books, kits and more on the topic of soybeans and bring agriculture to a student near you!
~Melissa
Additional Reading
A Soybean Farm – America’s Heartland
From Pod to Plate: Soy Processing
Uses of Soybeans
What are soybeans used for
High Oleic Soybean Oil Paves Way for Cleaner Asphalt
Iowa Agriculture Literacy 
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