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Soybeans are a widely grown crop with a variety of uses, including animal feed, biofuels, lubricants, and human consumption. In the last 50 years, soybean production has increased rapidly, with the world now producing over 13 times more soy than in the early 1960s. This expansion has had a significant impact on the environment, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, soil erosion, water contamination, and pollution. Soybean production is also linked to intensive agricultural practices, such as the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which can pollute nearby water sources. While it is challenging to determine the exact percentage of pollution-free soybeans, it is clear that the environmental impacts of soybean production are significant and far-reaching.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of soybeans used for human consumption | 19.2% (globally) or 20% (worldwide) |
| Percentage of soybeans used for livestock feed | 77% (globally) or 75% (worldwide) |
| Percentage of soybeans used for industrial purposes | 4% (worldwide) |
| Percentage of soybeans used for tofu, soy drinks, tempeh, and edamame beans | 7% (globally) |
| Percentage of soybeans produced in Brazil | Over one-third (worldwide) |
| Percentage of soybeans produced in the US | 117 million tonnes |
| Percentage of soybeans produced in South America | Nearly 50% (worldwide) |
| Percentage of soybeans produced in tropical countries | Not mentioned |
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What You'll Learn
Soybean production's environmental impact
Soybeans are a widely grown crop with a variety of uses, including animal feed, industrial lubricants and biofuels, and human consumption. However, soybean production has been scrutinized for its adverse environmental impacts.
Soybean farming has been linked to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and other environmentally damaging factors. Soybeans are commonly grown on former cattle pastures, pushing cattle ranching further into forest areas. This has led to the invasion of soybean farms into valuable ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest, the Chaco dry forest in Argentina, and the Cerrado savanna in Brazil. The expansion of agricultural land for soybean production has resulted in the destruction of native vegetation, grasslands, and forests, endangering habitats and species while threatening traditional livelihoods.
Soybean production also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The clearing of native vegetation, land-use change, energy consumption, and soil disturbance associated with soybean farming release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In addition, soybean cultivation requires significant amounts of energy, water, agrochemicals, and soil, further straining natural resources. The intensive farming practices used in soybean production, such as the application of pesticides and fertilizers, can lead to water pollution and occupational hazards for people living or working nearby.
To address the environmental impacts of soybean production, various solutions have been proposed. Reducing the demand for soybean-based animal feed by substituting it with alternative feed sources or reducing meat consumption can significantly decrease soy demand. Encouraging the use of insects as animal feed, as suggested by the FAO in 2013, is a more sustainable option. Additionally, promoting plant-based diets and plant-based alternative proteins can help curb the environmental footprint of soybean production.
While soybean production has environmental challenges, it is important to note that the majority of soy is used for livestock feed rather than direct human consumption. By addressing the root causes of soybean demand and promoting sustainable alternatives, we can mitigate the adverse effects of soybean farming on the environment.
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Soybeans' role in deforestation
Soybeans are a widely grown crop, known for their use in a wide variety of food products. Soy is also used to produce animal feed and for several other industrial purposes. In the last 50 years, soy production has expanded rapidly and has been scrutinized for its impact on the environment. Soybeans are the fourth most widely farmed crop in the world by both land area and value. The world now produces over 13 times more soy than it did in the early 1960s. This soy production boom has increased the demand for cropland, often at the expense of our planet.
Brazil, the world's leading soybean producer, harvests 133 million tonnes of soy per year, followed by the US at 117 million tonnes. Most of the world's soy is farmed in these two countries. The crop is also grown in Argentina, China, India, Paraguay, and various other places around the globe. In Brazil, which accounts for over one-third of global production, land use for soy has tripled since 1980. For many years, this was done at the expense of the Amazon rainforest. To date, we have lost more than 20% of the Amazon rainforest, 25% of the Pantanal, and 50% of the Cerrado.
South America, where the area of land used to grow soy more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, soybeans are commonly grown on former cattle pastures. Because buying land that has previously been cleared by beef producers pushes cattle ranching further into forest areas, soy farms play a key role in driving deforestation. Soy farms have invaded the Amazon rainforest, Argentina's Chaco dry forest, Paraguay's Atlantic Forest, Bolivia's Chiquitania forest, Uruguay's Campos grasslands, and Brazil's Cerrado savanna. More than 81% of soybean-producing land in the US is found in the northern Midwest, where higher crop yields allow soybeans to be grown relatively cheaply. In 2020, around 35% of national soybean production came from just three states: Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. Agricultural expansion for soybean production in the Midwest has destroyed vast swathes of tallgrass prairies.
While most soybean producers are small, a minority of large producers dominate the sector. Globally, only 19.2% of soy goes to food for humans, almost two-thirds of which is turned into oil, while 77% is used to feed farmed animals, primarily chickens and pigs. Poultry production is the world's single biggest consumer of soy, with chickens and other domestic fowl gobbling up 37% of the total amount of soy produced. A common argument that soybean products are 'unsustainable' is a misconception because the majority of soy is used for livestock feed. However, commercial soy farming has undoubtedly taken a toll on the planet's soils and biodiverse regions.
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Soybeans' water pollution potential
Soybeans are a widely grown crop with a variety of uses, including animal feed, industrial lubricants, and biofuels. The global demand for soybeans has soared in recent years, with Brazil and the US being the world's leading producers. Soybean farming has been scrutinized for its environmental impact, particularly concerning deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water use.
Soybean production has expanded rapidly in the last 50 years, with a 13 to 15-fold increase in global production compared to the 1960s. This expansion has come at a cost, with natural lands being converted into soy plantations, causing wide-scale deforestation and other environmental issues. South America, particularly Brazil, has been a hotspot for soy-related deforestation, with the Amazon rainforest, the Chaco dry forest in Argentina, and the Cerrado savanna in Brazil bearing the brunt of it.
The water pollution potential of soybeans arises from soil erosion and the use of agrochemicals. When soil becomes less fertile due to conventional farming practices, more fertilizer is required, leading to excessive fertilizer use in soybean production. Soil erosion caused by farming practices results in loose soil particles being washed into nearby waterways by rainfall, leading to murky water and reduced sunlight penetration, which depletes the water of oxygen.
Additionally, pesticides and fertilizers applied to soybean fields enter surface water through agricultural runoff or seep into the groundwater, creating dead zones in oceans. This contamination of water sources impacts wildlife and poses health risks to rural communities that depend on these water sources. The expansion of soybean production contributes to water scarcity, further exacerbating water-related issues.
While soybeans have a water pollution potential, it's important to note that the majority of soy is used for livestock feed, and the environmental impact of soy grown for animal feed surpasses that of soy grown for human consumption. Therefore, reducing the consumption of animal-based products can significantly curb the adverse effects of soybean farming on the environment.
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Soybeans' impact on soil
Soybeans have become one of the world's most essential and profitable agricultural commodities. Soybean production has increased by 15 times in the last 50 years, experiencing one of the greatest expansions of any global crop. The US and South America dominate soybean production, with Brazil being the world's leading soybean producer, harvesting 133 million tonnes of soy per year, followed by the US at 117 million tonnes.
The expansion of soybean farming has had a significant impact on the environment, including soil health. Soil disturbance is one of the key sources of soy farm emissions. Soybeans are typically grown in rotation with corn or in monoculture systems, where soy is the only crop planted. While this method of farming can increase land productivity in the short term, it also damages vital natural resources such as soil.
When soil becomes less fertile due to conventional farming practices, more fertilizer is needed to help plants grow. In 2020, soybean production in the US required more than 3 billion pounds of potash, nearly 2 billion pounds of phosphate, 450 million pounds of nitrogen, and 138 million pounds of sulfur. The excessive use of fertilizers contributes to water pollution when rain washes loose soil particles and sediments into nearby waterways, leading to murky water that depletes oxygen levels.
Additionally, the lack of biodiversity in soy plantations makes the crops more susceptible to diseases and pests, leading to increased pesticide use. These agrochemicals further contaminate water sources through agricultural runoff or by seeping into groundwater.
The expansion of soybean farming has also contributed to deforestation, particularly in South America. Between 2000 and 2019, the area of land used for soybean cultivation in South America more than doubled, leading to the displacement of wildlife and the destruction of their habitats. Deforestation exacerbates soil erosion and increases the vulnerability of the affected areas to forest fires, further threatening biodiversity.
While soybean production has had adverse effects on soil health and the environment, it is important to note that the majority of soy is used for livestock feed rather than direct human consumption. The environmental footprint of soy grown for animal feed is significantly larger than that of soy grown for human consumption. By reducing our intake of animal-based products, we can help curb the environmental impact of soybean farming, including its effects on soil health.
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Soybeans' effect on biodiversity
Soybeans, a species of legume native to East Asia, have become a very important crop worldwide. In the last 50 years, soybean production has expanded rapidly, with global production today 13 times higher than it was in the 1960s. This expansion has come at a cost to the environment. Soybeans have been linked to deforestation, biodiversity loss, rising carbon emissions, soil erosion, and water contamination.
Soybeans have been implicated in deforestation, particularly in South America. Between 2001 and 2010, approximately four million hectares of forest were destroyed each year in the region, primarily for soy and beef production. In Brazil, which accounts for over one-third of global soybean production, land use for soy has tripled since 1980, often at the expense of the Amazon rainforest. Soy farms have also invaded other biodiverse regions, such as Argentina's Chaco dry forest, Paraguay's Atlantic Forest, and Brazil's Cerrado savanna, which is home to 5% of the world's species. Satellite imagery taken between 2006 and 2017 revealed that 170,000 hectares of Cerrado forest were cleared to grow soybeans.
The expansion of soybean farms has resulted in the displacement of wildlife and the destruction of their habitats. It has also contributed to soil erosion, as conventional farming practices deplete the soil of its natural ability to absorb CO2, nutrients, and water. In 2020, soybean production in the US alone used vast quantities of fertilisers, including more than 3 billion pounds of potash and nearly 2 billion pounds of phosphate. These agrochemicals contribute to water pollution when they enter nearby rivers and streams through agricultural runoff or seep into the groundwater.
The environmental impact of soybean products depends on how they are grown, transported, and processed. First-generation soybean products like tofu, tempeh, and miso paste are considered less harmful to the planet than second-generation products, which require more extensive processing and additives to replicate the taste and texture of meat. While soybean products for human consumption have environmental impacts, the majority of soy is used for livestock feed, and it is this use that has a larger environmental footprint.
To curb the adverse effects of soy farming, several actions can be taken by the agricultural industry, governments, and consumers. Substituting soy with alternative feed for livestock can significantly reduce soy demand. For example, in 2013, the FAO encouraged the use of insects as animal feed as a more sustainable option. Additionally, intergovernmental agreements like Soy Moratoriums and increased funding for alternative animal feed research can help reduce soy's environmental impact.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to say what percentage of soybeans is pollution-free as soybean production has been linked to various types of pollution. For example, soybean farms have been associated with water pollution, air pollution, and soil pollution.
Soybean farms can cause water pollution through soil erosion, where rain washes loose soil particles into nearby waterways, and through agrochemicals, where pesticides and fertilizers applied to soybean fields enter surface water or seep into the groundwater.
While soybean production does contribute to air pollution, meat production typically generates even more waste, including animal waste and wastewater, which can impact the surrounding soil and future crops.
When soil becomes less fertile due to conventional farming practices, more fertilizer is needed to help soybean plants grow. This can lead to an excessive use of fertilizers, which can negatively impact soil health and, consequently, water quality.
To reduce the environmental footprint of soybean production, the agricultural industry, governments, and consumers can take several actions. For example, substituting soy with alternative feed for livestock, such as insects, can significantly reduce soy demand and its associated environmental impacts. Additionally, promoting plant-based diets and reducing the consumption of animal-based products can also help curb the adverse effects of soy farming.
