Global Bioenergy Industry News
US Soy Delivers Environmental Benefits
The study confirms why manufacturers increasingly turn to US soy in green chemistry for a wide array of biobased products.
Key findings on soybean production and processing include:
- The 3.36 billion bushels of soybeans grown in the United States in 2009 removed the carbon equivalent of taking 21 million cars off the road.
- The average soybean yield for 2004-2007 was 42.3 bushels per acre, a 12 per cent increase over the data used in the previous US life cycle inventory (LCI) database for soybean production and processing (1998-2000 average).
- The calculated release of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas, is 85 per cent less than the previous LCI data.
- The updated data show approximately 20 per cent less direct energy used in soybean farming due to reduced diesel and gasoline usage, compared with the previous LCI data.
- Soybean processing facilities reduced their energy consumption by 45 per cent compared with 1998 data.
“The soybean checkoff remains committed to helping improve the environmental footprint of the entire US soybean industry,” said John Cooper, a USB director and soybean farmer from Wynne, Arkansas.
“US soybean farmers identify strongly with the sustainability movement, and many have already made changes on their farms that will help make the entire US soybean industry even more sustainable.”
The soybean checkoff has helped increase the use of US soy as a renewable ingredient in a diverse group of biobased products. They range from biodiesel that fuels vehicles and other diesel-powered engines to the resins that go in the exterior panels of cars and farm machinery to spray foam insulation for buildings to lubricants for many uses.
As part of the study, a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was completed for four soyderived feedstocks – methyl soyate, soy lube base stock, soy polyol and soy resin – using the updated LCI information. These LCIAs show the soy-based feedstocks each significantly reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while similar petroleum-based products added to GHG emissions.
All four of these soy-based feedstocks also cut the use of petroleum, some of which is imported.
Additionally, the study found biodiesel production facilities reduced their energy consumption by 27 per cent compared with the 1998 data.
Biodiesel has even more benefits when one calculates the emissions reductions when it is used to fuel a vehicle.
“This profile is the first comprehensive life cycle study covering US soybean production through four major biobased products,” Cooper said.
“US soy already delivers environmental and energy benefits. It’s exciting to see the trends point to even more in the future.”
Omni Tech International, Ltd., conducted the study for USB. Four Elements Consulting, LLC performed the life cycle assessment modeling. A group of international reviewers verified the project in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040/44 Life Cycle Requirements.
TheBioenergySite News Desk
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