The Right Crop, Right Place and Right Time

November 15, 1999

The "soybean saga" is the story of the right crop in the right place at the right times, says Worldwatch Institute President Lester Brown. And although the soybean originated in China, U.S. farmers have taken advantage of its potential, and Brown says China "is almost certain" to become more dependent on U.S. soybeans in the years ahead.

U.S. harvested soybean acreage exceeded corn for the first time this year, Brown notes, citing USDA data, and soybean production value is second only to corn. "It has long since surpassed wheat in both area and value," he adds.

The United States accounts for half the global soybean harvest, "dominating production on a scale that is unique among major crops. And China, which was once the leading soybean grower, now produces only one-tenth of the total harvest."

Brown says the driving force behind the growth in soybean production is the "expanding global appetite for animal protein." World consumption has expanded five-fold since 1950, and as demand for beef, pork, poultry, eggs and dairy products "soared," so has demand for protein meal to supplement grain in livestock and poultry rations.

Less than one-tenth of the world"s soybean crop is used for food. The rest is crushed to produce soybean oil and soybean meal. Now, as incomes continue to increase in China and an expected 300 million more people are added to the country"s population, "the Chinese will consume more and more pork, poultry and eggs, requiring ever-expanding imports of soybeans," says Brown.

"China is almost certain to become progressively more dependent on U.S. soybeans in the years ahead, making the soybean connection between the two countries even stronger."