Soya bean protein fibres - past, present and future

Soya bean protein fibres - past, present and future 

The soya bean plant (genus Glycine , species Mar, family Leguminosae , subfamily Papilionoideae) is a bush-like aimual, growing about 1.8 m tall and bearing pods which each contain several smooth seeds - the soya beans. It 

Soya beans became a significant crop in the USA in the early twentieth century in a linked producer/processor development known as the American soya complex and were well estabUshed by the 1930s. Thousands of new varieties were introduced, and by 1933 over 1,400,000 hectares were being used for soya bean production, producing over 600,000 kg of soya bean oil and equally large quantities of soya bean meal. In 2002,29.6 million hectares were planted with soya beans producing about 110 milUon metric toimes annually USA soya beans have an export value of 7.2 billion, the major markets being Europe, China, Mexico and Japan.  

Soya beans contain oil (180-220 g kg ) and approximately 35-45% protein (370-420 g kg ). The amino acid content differs significantly from that of wool and silk protein (see Table 13.1). Soya bean protein content is higher than that of peanuts (approximately 25% protein) and maize (approximately 10% protein). The principal components of this protein are 

1 Soya bean fibres made by the Ford Motor Company, early 1940s. From America s Fabrics reproduced in Kiplinger, J. 2003. Meet the Azions from A-Z Regenerated Rejuvenated. www.fabrics.net/joan103.asp. Accessed 16 November 2004. 

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