The United States is the world's leading soybean producer and exporter. In 2001-2002, soybean production in the U.S. was approximately 74 million metric tons, with a farm value of 1 5.0 billion dollar (Economic Research Service, 2003). Approximately 90 percent of total oilseed production in the U.S. is based on soybeans. After crushing for oil production, some 35 million metric tons of soybean meal are generated annually in the U.S. The primary use of soybean meal is animal feed. With a protein content of approximately 50 percent, soybean meal provides a relatively low-cost raw material (0.30 dollar/ kg) for the development of new biobased products. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, IL, as part of our biobased products research program, we have been developing new uses for soybeans, focusing primarily on protein-based materials. Project areas include use of soy proteins in foamed plywood adhesives and protein-based metal-bindingagents.
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