Soya is a protein-rich crop with a relatively small environmental footprint when consumed directly by humans in foods like tofu or soya milk. However, the vast majority of soya grown today is used to feed farmed animals. Because raising animals for meat is inherently inefficient – requiring large amounts of feed to produce relatively small amounts of food – enormous quantities of soya are consumed by farmed animals. This heavy demand driven by animal agriculture contributes significantly to environmental degradation.
Sources
[1] FAO (2025): Crops and livestock products. FAOSTAT. Available at: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL
[2] Fraanje, W. & T. Garnett (2020): Soy: food, feed, and land use change. (Foodsource: Building Blocks). Food Climate Research Network, University of Oxford.
[3] American Soybean Association (n.d.): Animal Agriculture. Available at:https://soygrowers.com/key-issues-initiatives/key-issues/other/animal-ag/ [Accessed: 19.06.2025]
[4] FAO (2025): Detailed trade matrix. FAOSTAT. Available at: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/TM [Accessed: 19.06.2025]
[5] Kuepper, B. and M. Stravens (2022): Mapping the European Soy Supply Chain – Embedded Soy in Animal Products Consumed in the EU27+UK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Profundo.
[6] Southern Ag Today (2021): What’s Driving Soybean Value: Meal or Oil? Available at: https://southernagtoday.org/2021/10/25/whats-driving-soybean-value-meal-or-oil-2/ [Accessed:26.06.2025]
[7] Decision Innovation Solutions (n.d.): Relative Value of the Soybean Crush. Available at: https://www.decision-innovation.com/news/relative-value-of-the-soybean-crush/ [Accessed: 26.06.2025]
[8] Alexander, P., C. Brown, A. Arneth, et al. (2016): Human appropriation of land for food: The role of diet. Global Environmental Change 41 88–98. Doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.09.005
[9] Alexander, P., C. Brown, A. Arneth, et al. (2017): Could consumption of insects, cultured meat or imitation meat reduce global agricultural land use? Global Food Security. Doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2017.04.001
[10] Cassidy, E. S., P. C. West, J. S. Gerber, et al. (2013): Redefining agricultural yields: from tonnes to people nourished per hectare. Environmental Research Letters 8(3), 034015. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/034015
[11] Poore, J. & T. Nemecek (2018): Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science 360(6392), 987–992. doi:10.1126/science.aaq0216
[12] Stockhold Environment Institute (2025): Trase: Brazilian soy exports and deforestation. Available at: https://www.sei.org/features/brazilian-soy-exports-and-deforestation/ [25.06.2025]
[13] UkrAgroConsult (2023): Ranking of Soybean and Safrinha Corn Production by State in Brazil. Available at: https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/ranking-of-soybean-and-safrinha-corn-production-by-state-in-brazil/ [Accessed: 26.06.2025]
[14] MAPBIOMAS. Available at: https://plataforma.brasil.mapbiomas.org/cobertura?activeBaseMap=9&layersOpacity=100&activeModule=coverage&activeModuleContent=coverage%3Acoverage_main&activeYear=2023&mapPosition=-15.114553%2C-51.459961%2C4&timelineLimitsRange=1985%2C2023&baseParams[territoryType]=1&baseParams[territories]=10001%3BBrasil%3B1%3BPa%C3%ADs%3B0%3B0%3B0%3B0&baseParams[activeClassTreeOptionValue]=default&baseParams[activeClassTreeNodeIds]=30%2C31%2C32%2C33%2C34%2C35%2C36%2C37%2C38&baseParams[activeSubmodule]=coverage_main&baseParams[yearRange]=1985-2023 [Accessed: 25.06.2025]
[15] European Commission (n.d.): Food and Feed Information Portal Database. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/food/food-feed-portal/screen/gmo/search [Accessed: 26.06.2025]
[16] FAOSTAT (2025): Detailed trade matrix. FAOSTAT. Available at: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/TM [Accessed: 26.06.2025]
