February 3, 2006

Cargill to expand low-fat soy production

US agribusiness firm Cargill this week announced plans to expand its processing of Vistive, a low-linolenic soybean, to its facility in Lafayette, Indiana to serve growers in the area.

The company is to process around 10,000 acres of Vistive soybeans at its Lafayette facility. Cargill is also processing Vistive soybeans at its four other Iowa facilities. In total, it has identified up to 150,000 acres of Vistive soybean production in the 2006 growing season.

According to the company, low-linolenic soybeans reduce the need for partial hydrogenation of soybean oil, helping food companies reduce cholesterol and heart disease promoting trans fatty acids (trans fats) in their products.

Vistive was launched by agricultural company Monsanto after ten years in development. According to Monsanto, the beans contain less than 3 percent linolenic acid compared with 8 percent for traditional soybeans. Vistive has been a huge success so far due to current market preference for lesser trans fat content in foods.

Introduction of Food And Drug Administration trans fat labeling rules have also been putting the pressure on producers to market low fat products. The new rulings were introduced to educate consumers on healthier food choices.

Products labeled 'no trans fat' are increasingly popular in the US and command a US$6 billion market.

Monsanto expects that Vistive soybeans will be grown on nearly 500,000 acres this year.

The company is also developing other varieties of its Vistive soybean with low saturated and trans fat content which are expected to enter to market in 2012-2013.

According to Monsanto, its low-linolenic and mid-oleic beans were developed through conventional breeding methods with cheaper GM versions of the low-linolenic bean also available.