American Agriculture Beginning over 3,500 years ago, the soybean was first cultivated in Asia and transformed from its wild state into a staple agricultural crop. The U.S. is the world s leading soybean producer, growing a record 2,727 billion bushels harvested in 1997 the highest production level in history. Europe is the principal market for U.S. whole soybeans export, while Japan is the largest single country customer. Soybeans are the only vegetable food that contain protein makeup which is considered to be nutritionally complete.
Soybeans also serve as an important source of nutrition in animal feed.
Soybean seed is processed into a variety of protein fractions used for human consumption. Soybean food products include baked goods, confections, meat products, textured foods and nutritional supplements. Soybeans are also an important source of dietary fiber and contain a relatively high oil content. Soybean oil is used extensively in the fod industry in products such as cooking oil and salad dressing. Lecithin, extracted from soybean oil, is a natural emulsifier and lubricant used in everything from pharmaceuticals to protective coatings.