|
Trans Fat Free
High Oleic Soybeans Provide Wider Market For Soybean Oils
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER
MidAmerica Farmer Grower
PERRYVILLE, MO.
The introduction of the High Oleic soybean is changing the soybean industry – for the better. United Soybean Board farmer/director John Motter of Jenera, Ohio, explained how this improved soybean is expected to increase demand for soybean oils.
United Soybean Board farmer/director John Motter of Jenera, Ohio, explains how the High Oleic soybean is changing the soybean industry.
Photo by John LaRose, Jr.
Motter, whose family has been farming for 13 generations, raises high oleic soybeans on property settled by his grandmother three generations ago.
He described the new trait in the high oleic soybean and the importance it is having on the soybean industry.
“In 2006 we talked about labeling trans fats,” Motter said. “At that time, we were selling 17 billion pounds of edible oils from soybeans. Since then, the market shrunk to 13 billion pounds. We want to recapture that 4 billion pounds of market share, and we can do that with high oleic soybeans.”
The high oleic soybean has a longer fry life and it creates more uses. The high oleic trait can be used industrially, it has high-heat stability and great lubricity so it may be used in several different kinds of motor oils and transmission oils.
“This trait is very very important for our market,” he added. “It was first created with the consumer in mind. The trait is all about creating a better product for the end user.”
Trans fats are completely eliminated from the oils and diets of the American people with the high oleic soybean.
“That’s a big deal for us,” he said. “It’s a big win, win for growers, for consumers, and everyone up the food chain in the soybean industry.”
The United Soybean Board is looking to expand the growing area for high oleic soybeans as much as 30 percent by 2023.
“That gives us enough of the value-added oil to win back the majority of the 4 billion pounds lost since trans fat labeling,” Motter said.
“With the high oleic trait, we are raising the demand for soybean oil and, in raising that demand, we project that the entire soybean industry will realize an additional 66 cents on every bushel of beans. This helps not only those growing high oleic beans, but it helps every grower. Everybody benefits from the increased demand for edible oils.∆
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER: Senior Staff Writer, MidAmerica Farmer Grower
|
|