The History Behind the Innovation
In the late 1990s, farmers representing the United Soybean Board (USB) recognized the need to engage in an ongoing dialogue with all aspects of the value chain to help guide production strategies.

Feedback from the feed industry indicated a need for soybean meal that allows for animal efficiencies to be improved through the reduction of indigestible phosphorus, increased metabolizable energy and changes to the amino acid balance. In addition to the economical value benefits, improved soybean meal would reduce environmental impacts of livestock production.

QUALISOY Encourages Collaboration
Based on industry input, USB put the Better Bean Initiative (BBI) in motion. In order to accelerate the development of enhanced soybean varieties, USB assembled a diverse core team of experts made up of USB farmer-leaders, agribusiness veterans and soybean breeding experts. In addition to trait improvements that would result in healthier oils, the BBI team sought to improve the amino acid profile to make soy-based animal feed more digestible. This improvement would reduce animal waste, and would lessen the environmental impacts of livestock operations.

As the BBI evolved, the need for a more collaborative effort became evident. The resulting concept of QUALISOY resulted from a desire to unite various disciplines within the soybean industry and make better use of the technologies and intellectual property already available. There was consensus among producers, researchers, seed breeders, processors and manufacturers that the QUALISOY platform would be the critical next step in this ambitious initiative to transform a commodity the size of soy.

USB established the 22-member QUALISOY Board of Directors to help guide and support the QUALISOY effort. The QUALISOY board has representation from multinational and regional technology organizations, industry associations, state soybean boards, processing associations, academia and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. QUALISOY board members share the responsibility of identifying and setting research priorities and evaluating existing and emerging technologies.

Today
QUALISOY is involved in a number of initiatives to help meet the needs of the feed industry. Efforts including researching soybean trait enhancements, developing a soy allergenicity model and creating a net energy system for North America swine are described below. QUALISOY also coordinates with the United Soybean Board’s Animal Agriculture Initiative.

Moving Forward – QUALISOY's Long-Term Vision

The current market environment for animal utilization is indeed challenging, and the feed industry desires higher-quality soybeans and soybean products. Specifically, feed companies and animal nutritionists are looking for soybeans with a higher level of digestible protein that can be used to raise more animals faster. The proposed trait improvements include improved soybean meal digestibility to enhance feeding efficiencies and reduce the environmental impacts of livestock production.

© 2008 QUALISOY