This year saw farmers bring in a bin-busting harvest. Finding buyers for a record amount of soybean meal and oil requires a coordinated effort across the entire U.S. soybean industry. In 2014, demand from international customers was as strong as ever. Just in the last marketing year, U.S. soybean farmers exported 62 percent of their crop.
However, not all of the efforts leading to these outstanding international sales take place across U.S. borders; this demand is also supported by soy-checkoff-funded research and accomplishments achieved domestically that can be applied globally. A few highlights include:
Yield research: Big yields mean consistent supplies, which is an important factor in keeping many loyal foreign customers coming back for more. Research allowing American farmers to continue to produce an abundant supply of high-quality soybeans is a major reason the U.S. continues to export such high volumes.
New uses for polyurethanes: Many European and Chinese customers are interested in advancements made with polyurethanes using soy polyols. Such customers have chosen to replace petroleum with soy polyols in urethane foams, binders, coatings, adhesives and sealants. Soy polyols are versatile, durable and cost-saving, making them popular with domestic and foreign users.
Nutritional advancements for aquaculture: Currently, global production of farmed fish and shellfish is at 60 million tons, making up over half of the world’s fish supply for human consumption. This fish supply relies on the soy industry, using the meal from an estimated 525 million bushels of soybeans in its feed. To better serve this large customer base, researchers have developed a soy protein concentrate without some of the carbohydrates and other anti-nutritional elements normally found in soybean meal allowing more soy to be included in aquafeed rations.
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