A snapshot of low-linolenic and mid- oleic efforts, and QUALISOY funded projects:

Select Yield and Quality
As U.S. soybean production has shifted toward the upper Midwest, the average protein and oil levels of soybeans have declined. The United Soybean Board launched the Select Yield and Quality initiative in 2003 to study the protein levels of soybeans and to create a dialogue that protein and oil levels of soybeans define quality, rather than strictly yield.

For more information: http://www.unitedsoybean.org/syq

Low Linolenic Acids
In 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA - ARS) developed an oil called “Satelite.” Satelite was the first variety tested under the Better Bean Initiative (BBI), the predecessor to the QUALISOY initiative. The Satelite crop was harvested in October 2001, processed in late December 2001, and analytical and functional testing took place in 2002. Feedback was positive and the United Soybean Board (USB) utilized the testing results for the new soybean trait developments.

More recently available low linolenic acid soybeans include Monsanto’s VISTIVE™ soybeans, Iowa State University’s Low Lin Variety, and Pioneer® soybean variety 93M20. The resulting oils are branded as Asoyia™ Ultra Low Low Soybean Oil, VISTIVE™ Low Lin Soybean Oil and NUTRIUM™ Low Lin Soybean Oil.

For more information:
http://www.monsanto.com
http://www.notrans.iastate.edu
http://www.pioneer.com/pioneer_news/press_releases/corporate/nutrium.htm

Oleic Acids
In February 2004, the USDA-ARS announced a new germplasm, N98-4445A, that contained increased levels of oleic acid—a monounsaturated fat stable enough for use in salad dressings or frying oils without hydrogenation. With an increased oleic acid level, the germplasm contains only 3 percent linolenic acid, falling in line with the goals of QUALISOY.

For more information:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb04/soy0204.htm

Additionally, there is a “first generation” mid-oleic oil in preliminary testing, which is also part of the Better Bean Initiative. Recent analytical tests indicate that the oil’s profile contains 2.4 percent linolenic, 54 percent oleic and 12.6 percent saturates. USB will continue working to lower the level of saturates and increase the oleic level, but this oil is a step in the right direction in terms of eliminating the need for hydrogenation.

© 2005 QUALISOY