News

New uses of soybeans bringing long-term sustainability

Investing in diversification. 

Todd Main, the director of market development for the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA), says one way to protect soybean growers from ongoing trade uncertainties is to find new uses for their products.

“But at the end of the day, it’s all about moving the pile.”  He says, “We grow a lot of soybeans, and we’ve got to make sure that we can utilize those not only in the export markets for international, but also in domestic markets and figure out how we can capture some of the value of that and keep that here on the farm.”

He tells Brownfield that investments into the ISA’s Soy Innovation Center are bringing some of those new uses to reality.

“We’ve got a soy-based lubricant that can be used on farm equipment, for example, that we’re going to field test in the spring.”  He says, “And so that’s very exciting. And then we’ve got a couple of products that we’re going to be announcing very soon that are going to be available to the public.”

Main says increasing soybean demand through new uses brings long-term stability to soybean farmers.

Brownfield spoke with Main at the 2026 Illinois Soybean Summit in Champaign.

AUDIO: Todd Main – Illinois Soybean Association