A quarter-century of soy new uses
Environmental Protection Agency pressure to reduce emissions in the 1980s prompted the printing industry to look for a replacement for petroleum-based ink. Soy-based ink fit the bill and even enhanced the color in newspapers, while lowering printing costs. Thanks in part to efforts by the American Soybean Association, soybean oil became the printing standard for newspapers and industry.
Soon after, researchers discovered the same benefits that made soy ink more environmentally friendly and cost effective also worked in other products. This set off a chain of new ideas by researchers in a variety of industries. It also launched the checkoff’s commitment to support the discovery of new uses for soy. That commitment has helped increase industrial demand from 14 million bushels of U.S. soy in 2003 to more than 111 million bushels a decade later.
“You never know where the next great market for soybean derivatives will come from,” says Lewis Bainbridge, soy checkoff farmer-leader from South Dakota. “But by doing our homework and partnering with companies that share our commitment to developing sustainable soy-based products, we’re confident that industrial sales of U.S. soy will keep growing. That growth will continue to pay great dividends on our checkoff investment.”
A History of Soy Chemistry Innovation
1987
Soy ink helps the newspaper industry reduce emissions and lower costs. Soy is now found in offset lithography, laser printing toner and in the ink on printed packages. It is being silk-screened on products like microwave touchpads and metal, and will soon be available in spools for use in 3D printers.
1991
Renewable Lubricants partners with the checkoff to develop the first biobased lubricant approved for military tactical applications.
1992
The checkoff helps launch the National Biodiesel Board to create demand for excess soybean oil. Biodiesel utilizes billions of pounds of soybean oil each year.
2001
Soy-checkoff-funded research is used to produce plastic resin panels for John Deere.
2005
A research program at Biobased Technologies in Arkansas and Pittsburgh State University in Kansas, supported by the checkoff, leads to the development of soy polyols. In conjunction with Cargill, BiOH soy polyols are incorporated into foam by Hickory Springs Manufacturing.
2006
The checkoff partners with manufacturers to develop methyl soyate, a product of biodiesel production. Manufacturing partners incorporate methyl soyate into cleaning products and solvents.
2006
Ford Motor Company and Lear partner to develop soy-based foam for automobiles with checkoff research support. The cushions are incorporated into the 2008 Ford Mustang and later into every Ford vehicle manufactured in North America.
2007
Research at Oregon State University, funded with checkoff support, leads to the development of a soy-based technology that reduces formaldehyde in wood adhesives. Ashland uses the technology to develop Soyad adhesives and partners with Columbia Forest Products to use those adhesives in more than 60 million PureBond® plywood panels.
2009
Research support from the checkoff helps Rust-Oleum® introduce Varathane® clear soy polyurethane wood coating.
2010
Plews & Edelmann launches UltraLube® professional-grade greases, oils, spray lubricants and penetrants, using high oleic soybean oil, with technology based on checkoff-supported research.
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