Overview

Organic soyfoods have experienced the fastest growth of all consumer food segments during the past ten years. This phenomenon is driven by the fact that soymilk and soy-based meat analogs have made substantial improvements in versatility and have been recognized for their health attributes. Once reserved as a staple for “true” vegetarians, organic soy products are now finding their way onto the shopping lists of more traditional consumers.  May 2011 . . . Organic Soy


Marketing

• Market Trends, Organic Trade Association.
• Marketing U.S. Organic Foods: Recent Trends From Farms to Consumers, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2009 - U.S. organic-industry growth is evident in an expanding number of retailers selling a wider variety of foods, the development of private-label product lines by many supermarkets and the widespread introduction of new products. Retail sales of organic foods have jumped from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $21.1 billion in 2008.
• National Organic Program, Ag Marketing Service (AMS), USDA - Organic site including policy, rules and regulations, certification process information and certifying agents.
• Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources, National Ag Library, USDA.
• Organic and Conventional Grain and Soybean Prices in the Northern Great Plains and Upper Midwest: 1995 through 2003, South Dakota State University, 2004.
• Organic Feedgrain Producers and Handlers, National Organic Program, AMS, USDA - This partial list identifies certified feedgrain producers and handlers in the United State and Canada.
• Organic Grain Buyers, Iowa State University - This list provides the contact information for Midwestern organic grain buyers.
• Organic Grain Buyers, North Carolina State University - This list provides the contact information for organic grain buyers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and several other states.
• Organic Price Report, Rodale Institute - This online tool tracks selected prices from the fruit, vegetable, herbs and grain sectors, comparing organic prices to conventional prices in markets across the country.
• Organic Soybean Shortage Squeezes U.S. Producers, Des Moines Register, 2007 - Food companies and the livestock industry are looking to other nations to supply needs.
• Organic Trade Association (OTA) - Membership-based organization representing the organic industry.
• Soya Oilseed Bluebook - Worldwide industry and business directory for the soy industry. Registration is required to access the book.
• Soybeans and Oil Crops, ERS, USDA.
• Soybean.org - A comprehensive soyfoods Web site developed by the United Soybean Board and soy industry members of Soy Protein Partners. Includes soy food, organic and non-food soy information.

Production

• Accredited Certifying Agents, National Organic Program, AMS, USDA.
• Growing Organic Soybeans on CRP Land, Iowa State University Extension, 2003.
• Integrated Pest Management Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (IPMPIPE) - An online warning system to help soybean farmers protect their crop from devastating Asian Soybean Rust (ASR). Farmers can use maps of nationwide sentinel planting results to assess likelihood of disease and whether there is need for preventative fungicide applications. Other management tools and information are available on this site.
• Iowa 2006 Specialty Soybean and Corn Survey, National Soybean Research Laboratory and Iowa Agricultural Statistical Service, 2008.
• The Organic Crop Improvement Association - Organic certification agency.
• Organic Farm Performance in Minnesota 2008, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 2009.
• Organic Farm Performance in Minnesota 2007, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 2008 - This report summarizes actual Minnesota organic farm performance data from 2006 and 2007.
• Organic Production, ERS, USDA.
• Organic Production, Soy Organic Research, Iowa State University Extension - Research and educational material on organic production.
• Organic Soybean Budget, Organic Crop Production Enterprise Budgets, Iowa State University Extension, 2008.
• Organic Soybean Production, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), NCAT, 2003.
• The Profitability of Organic Soybean Production, ERS, USDA, 2008 - This study examines the profitability of commercial soybean production using a nationwide survey of soybean producers for 2006 that includes a targeted sample of organic growers.

Businesses/Case Studies

• American Natural Soy, Cherokee, Iowa, 2008 - This ag operation processes organic soybeans and flax seed into oil and meal.They also organically refine, bleach and deodorize canola, sunflower and safflower oils. Product is shipped all over the world.
• Canadian soybean producer targets health-conscious consumers, National Research Council Canada, 2010 - This Canadian producer exports organic soybeans and seeds to Japan. He is also developing a new line of soybeans high in isoflavones.
• Island Spring Tofu, PCC Natural Markets, 2005.
• Kansas Organic Producers, Goff, Kansas.
• Michigan farmers sell direct to Japan, The New Farm, Rodale Institute - Two brothers produce organic food-grade soybeans that they sell to a Japanese customer for soymilk and tofu.

Links checked May 2011.