Description

The soybean or soya bean (Glycine max) is a species of legume native to East Asia. Fat-free (defatted) soybean meal is a significant and cheap source of protein for animal feeds and many packaged meals, extensively grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses. The plant is classed as an oilseed rather than a pulse by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

Soybeans are a legume. They are high in protein and oil, making it a very useful crop for feed for livestock and food for humans. In fact, every **-pound bushel of soybeans produces *8 pounds of soybean protein meal and *1 pounds of soybean oil. The crop is also beneficial in replacing the soil with nitrogen. These benefits drove farmer adoption of the crop.

As the crop has grown in adoption, farmers, universities and seed companies have worked to improve the soybean plants ability to grow and adapt to various climates and conditions.