Agriculture and Environment: Commodities

Table of Facts: Soybeans (Glycine max)

Production
Area Under Cultivation - 74.1 Million ha
Global Production - 161.2 Million MT
Average Productivity - 2,176 kg/ha
Producer Price - $195 per MT
Producer Production Value - $31,477 Million

International Trade
Share of World Production - 57%
Exports - 91.6 million MT
Average Price - $204 per MT
Value - $18,728 Million

Principal Producing Countries/Blocs
(by weight)
United States, Brazil, Argentina, China, India, Paraguay, Canada, Bolivia, Indonesia

Principal Exporting Countries/Blocs
United States, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Netherlands, Canada, Bolivia

Principal Importing Countries/Blocs
China, European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia


Major Environmental Impacts

• Conversion of natural habitat
• Soil erosion and degradation
• Agrochemical use
• Genetically modified seeds
  

Potential to Improve

• Good
• BMPs are being identified and current prices can cover cost of adoption
• Agrochemical use
• Conservation tillage and zoning can reduce main impacts
• Possible to produce more on less land with fewer inputs
  

Source: FAO 2002. All data for 2000.