Sustainability of U.S. Soybean Production: Conventional, Transgenic, and Organic Production Systems

CAST papers are the foundation of CAST’s science communication work. Developed by expert-led task forces, these peer-reviewed publications translate agricultural science into trusted insights that inform policy, guide public understanding, and fuel CAST programs, dialogues, and educational initiatives.

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June 13, 2009
Special Publication

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62300/bjddb581

Task Force Chairs

Larry Heatherly

Agronomic Advisor, Seymour, Tennessee

Authors

Anne Dorrance

Department of Plant Pathology–OARDC, The Ohio State University, Wooster

Robert Hoeft

Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana

David Onstad

Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana

James Orf

Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Paul Porter

Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Stan Spurlock

Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State

Bryan Young

Department of Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Abstract

This CAST Special Publication documents the ecological and economic implications of the various systems used in U.S. soybean production. Soybean production has changed in the United States since its first introduction in the mid-1880s. Initially, the crop was produced mainly for forage and received only minimal inputs. Today, soybeans have become a major source of protein in animal diets and vegetable oils for human consumption. Considering this dramatic change, CAST is providing a comprehensive literature review that evaluates U.S. soybean production systems currently in use with respect to their environmental and economic sustainability.