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Producers finding new uses for soybeans, but still face challenges
Pick up a newspaper today and you'll likely notice a little box saying, "printed with soy ink." What many people don't realize, however, is that printing newspapers with the ink is the tip of the iceberg and, unlike the Titanic, many new soy uses and ideas will never sink.
A very small portion of the soybean harvest is being used for new and innovative uses, according to Keith Reinholt, of the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee. He said animals consume 95 percent of the soybean meal, and 85 percent of the oil is used for food, leaving little to other uses.
The Thumb Oilseed Producers' Cooperative, a new, farmer-owned venture to be based in Ubly, has been working on new uses for the oil they plan to produce as a by-product to soybean meal.
"Products with the most potential include solvents, plywood adhesive and soy ink," noted Reinholt. "But many people don't realize that there are many more uses."
Train tracks are constantly oiled for railcars to roll on. A petroleum-based oil has been used for many years, but now soy oil is being looked into -- a product that would be cleaner to use and better for the environment. Lubricants for irrigation systems and crankcase oil for cars have also been studied and used on a trial basis.
Hand and sun-block lotions are starting to use soy oil in their products. Hand cleaners and parts degreasers contain soy oil, as well.
John Deere has also found a use for soy oil.
"Approximately 25 round balers are currently using a prototype plastic door made with soy oil," Reinholt said. "The door replaced the fiberglass door, made with petroleum products, and is used to protect the user from moving parts."
Soy proteins have been used in adhesives for holding plywood and particle board together. An advantage of using soy proteins is that wood can be glued together while still green, thus avoiding the need to dry it first.
Many challenges face soybean-industry innovators -- perhaps the greatest is making the new products price-competitive.
According to Reinholt, people are very positive about the new soybean uses.
"Whether it's a common consumer or lumber company, trying to find new alternatives is very exciting," Reinholt noted. "New uses in the food industry is very positive because people want to eat healthy, and are willing to pay for it."
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