High Oleic Soybeans

What is high oleic?

Launched commercially in 2012, farmers currently grow high oleic soybeans in 16 states throughout the U.S. soybean belt with the highest concentration of acres in Ohio and Indiana.

High oleic soybean varieties produce oil that contains higher levels of oleic acid, increasing stability, and offer customers a more functional U.S.-grown product without sacrificing yield. The soybean industry continues to work to increase acreage of high oleic soybean varieties to meet increased demand for high oleic oil.

Why is it important?

The soy checkoff is positioning the qualities of high oleic soybean oil to capitalize on expanding markets and contribute to greater farmer profitability. High oleic soybean oil provides a sustainable, U.S.-grown product for food, feed and industrial users. High oleic soybeans increase the value and competitiveness of U.S. Soy across global and domestic markets. This benefits all U.S. soybean farmers.

Moreover, high oleic soybeans meet demand for oil that performs under high-heat conditions. The success of high oleic soy hinges on timely farmer adoption and long-term demand commitment from end users. The soy checkoff maintains communications to farmers and end users to encourage production of and demand for high oleic soybeans.

What is happening now?

Farmers in 16 states grew high oleic soybeans on more than 1.1 million acres in 2023 and on 800,000 acres in 2024 (with potential to reach 5 million acres in the future). For the end user breakout, about 35% of high oleic soybeans are used in dairy rations, 60% in food applications and 5% in industrial uses, e.g. asphalt, bioplastic and fire-resistant hydraulic oil. High oleic soybean oil contains beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids and less saturated fat, providing a health alternative to many cooking oils, with greater shelf stability and fry life.

Farmers had access to 21 varieties of high oleic soybeans in 2024, with available maturity groups ranging from 1.9 to 4.8 across all regions within the existing market. Available varieties include Plenish® from Corteva and SOYLEIC® from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. On average, farmers can gain premiums for $.75 – $1.25 compared to conventional varieties. In partnership with Corteva and Bayer, USB has invested $104 million in high oleic, and $320 million has been returned in premium payments back to farmers planting high oleic traits through 2024.

High oleic demand opportunities

FOOD USES:

  • Some high oleic soybean oil end users include Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Wing Barn, a country-style restaurant in southern Texas, the Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium concessions and Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company that uses high oleic soybean oil as an ingredient in its flavored liquid coffee creamer.

DAIRY USES:

  • Multiple studies (most funded by soy checkoff) have indicated strong performance benefits based on milk fat yield and increased profit potential.
  • High oleic soybeans in dairy rations increase milk fat yield and reduce risk of milk fat depression. (more here)
  • High quality source of fat and protein in dairy diets.
  • Potential to reduce diet cost.

INDUSTRIAL USES:

  • Asphalt: New polymer from high oleic soybean oil offers a lower-cost and cleaner alternative to binding agents used in asphalt.
  • Bioplastic: USB is helping develop a biobased plastic using high oleic soybean oil. It’s soil and marine biodegradable and can be used to make a variety of products, such as soy straws. These soy straws only take 6 months to biodegrade once they make contact with microbes in water or soil.
  • Fire-resistant hydraulic oil: USB is formulating high oleic soybean oil as a primary base in a fire-resistant hydraulic fluid that’s environmentally friendly for numerous applications such as mining, steel production, automotive component manufacturing, forestry, and agriculture.

Key messages

  • The checkoff recognizes that high oleic soybeans have the potential to revolutionize the soy industry. From increased food functionality to nonfood uses, high oleic soybeans add long-term value for all U.S. soybean farmers by providing a product that meets the demand of new and emerging markets.
  • The soy checkoff is committed to help expand contracted acres and delivery locations to make this specialty soybean available to more farmers.
  • High oleic soybean varieties deliver the same agronomic advantages and performance that farmers expect from their traditional soybean varieties.
  • High oleic expands markets for soybean oil demand in frying and baking as well as high-heat nonfood uses. It doesn’t take away demand for commodity soybean oil, which still meets the needs of many food and nonfood customers.