Perdue backs technology designed to boost oil and protein content of soybeans without risking yield

ZeaKal tweaked genetic characteristics of the plantto improve their rate of photosynthesis. In soybeans, it claims that PhotoSeed technology has consistently resulted in improved oil and protein content while improving the plant sustainability index.

San Diego -based biotech reports that, during the 2021 growth period, PhotoSeed soybean events increase oil composition by 12% while increasing protein at some point.

Add for chicken feedthat

For Perdue, with its grain and oil processing business and poultry production arm, under the Perdue Foods entity, increasing the oil and protein content of soybeans is critical to the mission.

Perdue AgriBusiness handles about three million acres worth of soybeans each year. Converting this acre to PhotoSeed soy, as it were, means growers will benefit from a higher crop value and Perdue will gain access to seeds with improved oil and higher yields. protein in the resulting diet.

“As we examined our supply chain, it became clear that moving up to access better seed genetics could increase cost and sustainability in ways that other solutions cannot. PhotoSeed soy is improving, we expect it to be a turning point for Perdue in processing soy and specialty oils, while improving feed quality, ”According to Perry Aulie, senior VP of value-added products, Perdue AgriBusiness.

Harvesting the cost of nutritional value

Traditionally, adding oil or protein meant sacrificing one or reducing yield. This is because soy oil and protein have historically had an opposite relationship: if the oil goes up by 1%, the protein goes down by 2% and the improvement in composition often has a penalty on yield.