This is the VOA SpecialEnglish Agriculture Report.
Soybeans are a valuable part of the world’s food supply. They aregrown in many countries. The major producers are the United States,Brazil, China and Argentina. Many food products are made fromsoybeans. For example, oil from soybeans is the largest singlesource of vegetable oil in the world.
Twenty percent of the soybean isoil. Fatty acids in the oil are thought to protect against heartattacks. The solid substance that remains after the oil has beenremoved from soybeans is called soy cake or meal. It has a largeamount of protein, about forty percent by weight. Often the soy cakeor meal is used to feed animals.
Young soybean plants, called sprouts, are a popular food in Asiancountries. The sprouts grow from dry beans. The beans are placed inwater for about twelve hours and then placed in a covered containerfor five to ten days.
Water can also be added to crushed whole soybeans to make soymilk. It has about the same amount of nutrients as cow’s milk.
But it has less fat than cow’s milk. And it does not harm peoplewho have a bad reaction to a substance in cow’s milk called lactose.
Other products can be made from soy milk. One of them is soycurd, better known as tofu. Tofu can be cooked, dried or frozen tomake many different kinds of food.
Other products are made from soybeans in a process similar tomaking alcoholic drinks. One of them is soy sauce. It is a darkbrown liquid that has a salty taste. Soy sauce can be added to manymeats and vegetables. In many countries, soybean protein is mixedwith maize and wheat to produce a very nutritious food. InGuatemala, the mixture is called “incaparina.” In Ethiopia it iscalled “faffa.” In Bolivia it is called “maisoy.” And in SouthAfrica it is called “pro nutro.”
The very large increase in soybean production is due to theincreasing popularity of soy as food oil and as cake for animalfeed. In addition, soy protein is low in cost and has manynutrients. Eating more soy beans can mean better nutrition aroundthe world.
You can get more information about soybeans from the groupVolunteers in Technical Assistance. You can contact VITA through theInternet at its world wide web address, w-w-w dot v-i-t-a dot o-r-g.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by GaryGarriott.