The foundation of a more circular economy is soy.
Every day, farmers push the boundaries of sustainability in their efforts to preserve and protect the environment and valuable farmland while providing the food, fuel, feed, and other necessities for human survival.
Farm to fork is no longer the only benefit that agriculture and agricultural products provide today. Encouraging a secure and sustainable food supply is still our top priority, but we’re constantly coming up with new strategies to encourage more circular and sustainable systems in sectors outside the food supply chain.
These methods begin on farms, where attempts to produce more with fewer resources are a part of worldwide initiatives to lower atmospheric carbon levels and mitigate the effects of climate change. Sustainable farming methods also offer new avenues for farmers to realize benefits for their own businesses as well as for the global economy. Examples of these opportunities include carbon capture programs.
There are now plant-based alternatives available for everything from tires to the asphalt they drive on, from low-emission, renewable fuels to more environmentally friendly trainers! There are even new uses for soybeans!
At United Soybean Board, helping farmers implement sustainable practices is a major part of what we do. But we also push research toward renewable alternatives for a growing range of products that span almost all industries. In order to guarantee that sustainable advancements are disseminated and supported along the entire food value chain and beyond, we also support a variety of partnerships and collaborations.
The wider implications of sustainable soy
Sustainable farming practices are being adopted by American soy farmers, who are improving yields on almost the same amount of land while using fewer other valuable natural resources. The 2021 National Indicators Report from Field to Market states that US soy farmers increased output by 130% between 1980 and 2020 while also improving:
efficiency of land use by 48%
60% more water is used efficiently.
46 percent reduction in energy use efficiency
efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions by 43%
soil conservation of 34% per acre.
These developments were made possible by American soy farmers who introduced a number of best farming practices, such as conservation tillage, crop rotation (often alternating soy and corn crops), and cover crops. Over time, these methods have shown to increase yields, preserve valuable soil and its nutrients, make the best use of water and other resources, and even absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
By themselves, these initiatives improve the environment on and off the farm. But with the emerging practice of carbon offsets, farmers are also finding new opportunities to directly support other industries, even while realising new revenue streams. In essence, no-till/low-till farming and cover crops are examples of sustainable farming techniques that help trap more carbon in the soil rather than the atmosphere, which is beneficial for the environment and the quality of the farmland. Other industries hoping to reduce the impact of their own emissions can support the stored carbon in farmland as technologies that measure it accurately advance.
Industry participants are even developing new varieties of cover crops that could soon allow farmers to harvest their second crop for use as feedstock for low-emission biofuel production, in addition to capturing more carbon in the soil during the offseason. In addition to giving farmers another source of income, this would enhance global sustainability in a number of ways. This demonstrates how more advanced, circular, sustainable systems might be on the horizon.
Organic protein to support food production
Regardless of whether it is soy food or soy fed, American soy offers superior quality protein that contributes to the energy of our food supply in many ways. American soy is the only plant protein that is on par in quality with animal protein and can appear on your plate in a variety of ways. According to Soy Connection, soybean oil, which is commonly referred to as “vegetable oil,” is simple to add to food and may improve heart health.1. It can enhance a dish’s nutritional content or take center stage as a fantastic source of complete, plant-based protein in the form of tofu or edamame.
But the majority of soy grown in the United States provides your protein by aiding in the production of fish, poultry, and hogs, which in turn supports food systems all over the world. The preferred source of protein and nutrients for animals that provide the animal protein we eat in our diets is U.S. soy.
About half of the soy grown in the United States is exported to feed food systems worldwide, with the remaining half being used domestically. The majority of soy meal produced in the US is fed to hens; the remainder is fed to hogs and aquaculture.
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Sustainable substitutes for common items
There’s more to American soy, and it’s receiving a lot of attention these days. Oil and meal are the two main byproducts of crushed soybeans, and each has a distinct application. Although demand for soybean oil has increased due to its ideal feedstock for biofuel, the oil can also be used for other unexpected purposes.
When it comes to fossil fuels and harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, soy oil frequently offers a more environmentally friendly and renewable option. For instance, according to Clean Fuels Alliance America, biodiesel offers a renewable fuel source and, when compared to fossil fuels, reduces greenhouse emissions by 74 percent on average over the course of its lifecycle. In addition, American soy produces safe, renewable substitutes for petroleum and dangerous chemicals used in paints, adhesives, plastic, tires, and other products.
A more circular system is produced by every one of these products. Better yet, even though the meal is still utilized as feed to maintain a balanced food chain, these products are made with soy oil. It’s not a choice between the two. The same bean can be used for both. About seven pounds of soybean oil are needed for every gallon of biofuel, and the meal made from those same beans also feeds thirty pounds of chickens.
Future plans and rising demand for American soy oil will lead to more soybean crushing, which will produce more high-quality soybean meal for protein production and help meet the nutritional demands of the world’s expanding population.
The future of ecologically friendly agriculture
Although we’ve come a long way, there is still much work to be done to strengthen agriculture’s crucial role in sustainability. U.S. soy propels the quick development of novel food production techniques, such as aquaculture, where new systems allow for the extremely efficient production of seafood and even allow for the use of byproducts to support crops. Nowadays, a growing number of American soy farmers offer thorough sourcing so that the larger food system can monitor and validate sustainable methods from farm to fork. Additionally, research into new and additional areas where soy and other agricultural products can be used to replace less sustainable alternatives is ongoing.
Farmers support a broader, more circular economy in both well-known and unexpected new ways, just as they follow the calendar’s circular pattern each year, constantly striving to meet the demand for food throughout the world’s seasons. In the upcoming years, more advancements as well as more delightful surprises are to be expected.