Agriculture is considered to be the backbone of any given economy because virtually all manufacturing industries depend on it. One of the most important crops is soya beans; a species of legumes.it is characterized by high proteins and oil content. They are used for various purposes. Some of the applications of soya beans are (Riaz, 2006):
i. Fat-free soybean meal
More than 80% of the soybean is converted into soybean meal. Usually, soybean meal is considered to be a very cheap source of animal proteins. The meal is usually fed to swine, catfish, dogs and poultry.
ii. Soy vegetable oil
Soybeans contain 18% oil. During oil extraction, the beans are crushed and then solvent extracted with hexane. The by-products are then used as animal feeds
iii. Non-fermented food products
The most common non-fermented soya product is the soya milk which is extracted from tofu and tofu skin.
iv. Fermented products
The fermented food products produced from soya are fermented bean paste, soy sauce, tempeh and nato.
v. Soy beans are also used directly as food for people
vi. green vegetable soybeans is also a product of soybeans, in which immature green pods are boiled and served with salt
vii. soy floor
Soy floor is produced when the beans are ground into finer material. It is used for extruder cooking (Circle, 1972).
viii. Soy products, usually sold as powders and in liquid form, are also used as substitutes for breastfeeding.
ix. Soy can also be processed into various forms so as to be used as substitutes and extenders of dairy and meet products
x. Soya have a wide range of industrial applications such as inks, soaps, plastics, cosmetics, crayons and solvents
xi. Soya is used in the manufacture of bio-diesel
South America plays a very important role in the worldwide production of soya beans. Figure 1 below shows the worldwide production of soya in 2012, as per the statistics from FAO (FAO, 2013).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Main body
2.1 Viewpoint 1
2.2 Viewpoint 2
2.3 Viewpoint 3
3. Conclusions
Objectives & Topics
This paper examines the significance of soya beans in global production and consumption, specifically focusing on the economic role of South American producers and their impact on international supply chains and environmental sustainability.
- The industrial and nutritional applications of soya beans.
- Statistical analysis of global soya production and import trends.
- The role of soya beans in livestock feeding and the biodiesel industry.
- Environmental challenges related to soya cultivation in Brazil, specifically deforestation and GM crop expansion.
Excerpt from the Book
Viewpoint 3
Brazil is the second producer of soya after United States. As of 2012, it produced 70 million metric tons of soya beans. This is an increase by 2.2% as compared to the production in year 2011, where the production was 68.5 million metric tons. Although the increase of soya production in Brazil is welcomed, their consequence on deforestation is a major concern to all the relevant stakeholders. For example, for the last 15 years, soya area has increased by 77% in Centre-West region, 767% in the Northern part of Brazil and 89% in Mato Grosso state. Soya farming has had both direct and indirect effects on deforestation of the Amazon forest. Directly, the practice has led to the trees being cut down to create more land for soya cultivation (Fargione, Hill, Tilman, Polasky, & Hawthorne, 2008).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the agricultural significance of soya beans, detailing their high protein content and diverse applications ranging from food products to industrial uses.
2. Main body: Analyzes global supply chain dynamics, the importance of soya for livestock and biofuels, and addresses the critical environmental impact caused by large-scale farming in Brazil.
3. Conclusions: Summarizes the conflicting perspectives regarding the necessity of soya production versus the urgent need for environmental protection and economic balance.
Keywords
Soya beans, South America, Brazil, Agriculture, Bio-diesel, Livestock, Deforestation, Amazon forest, FAO, Food industry, Global supply chain, GM crops, Sustainability, Economic impact, Crop production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this document?
The document investigates the global importance of soya beans, highlighting their multi-faceted utility in food, livestock, and energy sectors while examining the economic and environmental repercussions of their production in South America.
What are the central thematic areas?
The core themes include industrial and nutritional applications, global production statistics, the role of soya in biofuel energy, and the environmental controversy surrounding deforestation in Brazil.
What is the central research objective?
The work aims to evaluate the balance between the high demand for soya beans and the resulting ecological costs, such as the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the expansion of genetically modified crops.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author utilizes a qualitative review based on agricultural statistics, environmental reports, and expert viewpoints to synthesize the current state of the global soya market.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body presents three distinct viewpoints: the economic necessity of soya for importers like India, the technical advantages of soya in livestock and energy, and the environmental consequences of intensified production in Brazil.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Soya beans, Bio-diesel, Amazon forest, Deforestation, South America, and Global supply chain.
How is soya used in the biodiesel industry?
Soya oil is processed with ethanol and sodium hydroxide to create glycerin and ethyl esters, the latter of which serve as a viable form of biofuel.
What specific environmental impact is highlighted regarding Brazil?
The text highlights that increased soya farming in regions like Mato Grosso and the Northern part of Brazil has directly caused extensive deforestation in the Amazon and impacted surface water quality due to irrigation and waste.
What does the text imply about genetically modified (GM) soya?
The document notes a significant rise in GM soya cultivation in Brazil—from 9% in 1999 to 73% in 2012—and mentions ongoing concerns regarding its health impacts and the influence of foreign suppliers.
What is the conclusion regarding future production?
The document concludes that while soya beans are vital for the global economy, future production must prioritize environmental sustainability and balance to mitigate the degradation of critical ecosystems.
- Quote paper
- Kelvin Cherry (Author), 2013, Soya beans production in South America, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/271466
