Soybeans could help prevent microbial contamination of food

Apr 28, 2016

Recent research conducted by the University of Guelph

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

New research from the University of Guelph suggests that soybean derivatives may be able to stop microbial pathogens from growing on food.

Suresh Neethirajan, director of the BioNano Laboratory said using soy isoflavones, which act as hormones and control biological activity on a cellular level, and peptides, which are part of proteins and can act as hormones or hormone producers, could benefit the food industry because some bacteria is fighting off the traditional methods.

His team’s research found that using those soybean derivatives can help limit growth of listeria and pseudomonas pathogens.

Soybeans

“Soy peptides and isoflavones are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and non-toxic. The demand for new ways to combat microbes is huge, and our study suggests soy-based isoflavones and peptides could be part of the solution,” he said in a press release.

“Heavy use of chemical antimicrobial agents has caused some strains of bacteria to become very resistant to them, rendering them ineffective for the most part,” said Neethirajan.

Neethirajan said the new research could have domino effects across different industries.

“This could be very beneficial to food processors, as well as the farmers who grow soybeans.”

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.