Soya bean or soybean
Family Leguminosae: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae)
Glycine max (= Glycine soja, = Glycine hispida), the soya bean or soybean (G. max 1), is a bushy pubescent annual, 20-180 cm tall, hairy on all parts. The alternate leaves are trifoliate. The small white or lilac flowers are borne in axillary racemes. The hairy pods (G. max 2) are slightly curved, 3-7 cm long, yellowish, grey, brown or black in colour, containing 2-4 seeds. Shape and colour of the seeds is also very variable: round or flattened, yellow, green, brown, black or mottled (G. max 3), (G. max 4). The seeds are rich in proteins, fat carbohydrates, and vitamins A and B.
Distribution
Soya beans have been cultivated in China since time immemorial and are an important source of food in East Asia. They were introduced in Paris in 1740 and in Kew in 1790, but little interest was shown. The crop was taken to the US in 1804, but commercial production started only in the 20th century. Today the crop has been introduced to most tropical countries.
Use
Outside East Asia where the crop is used as a vegetable, soya beans are mainly grown for export. They are one of the most important sources of oil, which is used for 95% for the production of margarine, mayonnaise, dressings and ice-cream. The oil is also used in the production of paints, linoleum, inks, soap, cosmetics and in the pharmaceutical industry and as lubricant. Soya milk is a valuable protein supplement in infant feeding. Soya sauce is made from fermented beans. Soya meal, the residue after extraction the oil, is used for feeding livestock and in the manufacture of several industrial products. Soya flour is used in confectionery, as additive to cereal flour, in sausage, and in health foods.
In the US (G. max 5) the largest producer of soya beans, genetic manipulation has changed the crop, and the resulting modified beans gave rise to a lot of discussion. Especially the use of genetic modified beans in a lot of foodstuffs, without clearly stating this on the label, resulted in displeasure among many consumers. Other important producers of soya beans are China, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico and Korea. The most important importers are Japan, Holland and Spain.