For certain targeted traits, a significant amount of overlap, and thus additive benefit, exists. Nutritional opportunities are those which enable nutritionists to extract, in the context of their feed formulations, more nutritional value from soybean meal. Overall cost is reduced when changes in soybean meal composition allow for the displacement of other more expensive sources of required nutrients. Increasing the levels of certain essential amino acids is a prime example of a nutritional opportunity. Reducing Environmental Impact Environmental opportunities are those associated with lowering the levels of manure components generated per animal fed.
Components targeted include both nitrogen and phosphorus.
Both are present and growing environmental concerns relative to high-density animal production areas. Nitrogen can be addressed by improving the amino acid balance, that is the relationship between amino acids, as well as the extent to which soybean meal protein is digested. Phosphorus can be addressed by increasing the extent to which the phosphorus present in the meal can be digested and productively utilized by the animal. Partnerships for an Enhanced Meal Part of USB s strategic plan is to identify ways to coordinate USB-sponsored research with activities of life science companies and public breeders to accelerate development and commercialization of seed varieties with enhanced soybean meal characteristics.