Why the U.S. bets so big on soybeans

Soybeans contributed $124 billion to the U.S. economy in 2022. The versatile crop is used in food and animal feed worldwide. The U.S. was once the No. 1 global producer but has since lost its dominance to Brazil, which has helped push American farmers into such alternative uses as biofuel and bioplastics. Watch the video above to learn more about how the U.S. lost its stronghold in soybean exports, China’s influence on that global trade and the future demand of this often overlooked legume.