Soybean: a Multifaceted Legume with Enormous Economic Capabilities

Soybean is the broad bean classified under plant legume with its scientific name as Glycine max. It is known for more than 3000 years in Southeastern Asia. Due to its versatility and exceptional health benefits it is being cultivated across the whole world. Different varieties of this truly amazing legume are available throughout the year. It is found in varied of sizes as well as seed coat colors, right from black, brown, blue, yellow or mottled. Like other beans, soybeans grow in pods and come under category of edible seeds. About 85% of the world’s soybeans are processed annually into soybean meal and oil. Approximately 98% of the soybean meal is crushed and further processed into animal feed with the balance used to make soy flour and proteins. Of the oil fraction, 95% is consumed as edible oil; the rest is used for industrial products such as fatty acids, soaps and biodiesel. It is one the most widely researched and health-promoting cheapest food. The key benefits are related to their excellent protein content (contains all 8 essential amino acids), high levels of essential fatty acids, numerous vitamins and minerals, isoflavones, and fiber. Most of the soy products act as perfect replacements for meat and dairy products specifically required for vegetarians. For children, soybeans are effective in their growth and development. Soybeans have considerable amounts of ┙-linolenic acid, omega-6 fatty acid and isoflavones (genistein and daidzein) (Messina, 1995). While the isoflavones present reduces the risk of developing cancer of breast, cervical, ovarian, lung and colon, protein helps in lowering cholesterol levels, thus helpful in reduction heart and blood pressure associated diseases. Soybean is one of the important crops taken into consideration as candidature of genetically modified (GM) foods due to its great demand worldwide. GM organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis and breeding where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. The herbicide resistant gene has been taken from bacteria and inserted into soybean that has led to resistance to glyphosate or glufosinate herbicides. United States (US) stands first in using GM soybean and also it is one of the major exporters across the world. There are various issues associated with genetic modification, particularly its long term affects on environment. The technique seems to be analogous to nuclear power, nobody loves it, but climate change has made genetic modification, a most important requisite. It offers both faster crop adaptation and a biological, rather than chemical approach leading to tremendous increase in crop yield.

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