Soybeans  The soybean is known as one of the most significant   oilseed   crop   world   wide, considering the acreage planted with this oilseed as well  as for its total production. This   is   why   the  agricultural  countries invest  a  large  amount  of  money  and resources  to  support  it,  leaving  on  a second layer other grains like sunflower, rapeseed, etc.  Nevertheless, an  due  to  the  importance that  this  food  represents  in  the  world market,  (soy meal  and  soy oil for the food and  feed  industries  are  obtained),  the production  is  focused  mainly  on  four countries  (that  produce approximately 88% of  the  world)  that  are:  United States, Brazil,  China  and  Argentina.

The  soybean  is  the  most  important  oil  seed  around the world as well as in Mexico,  its  high  economic  value  relies  on  the  quality  of its oil and the soy meal that are industrialized into other products of added value. The soy meal is consider  a  highly  nutritive  vegetable  protein.  Unfortunately  the  domestic production of soy has decreased since the implementation of the NAFTA, even though it  was  the only  one that was protected by the application of an import tariff, which  will disappear on  2003. To fulfill the demand due to the lack of the production   of  soy   beans,  the    Mexican  industry  has   faced  the  need  to substantially  depend  on  the  soybean  imports  and  its  byproducts  from the United States and South America. 

History 

The  soybean  was  originated  in  Asia,  about  5000  years ago, and has played since then  a crucial roll  in  the nutrition and dietary needs of oriental countries like China and Japan. 

The  scientific  name  of  the soy  is  Glycine Max. It is an annual crop,  which its plant generally raises to a height of 80 cm. The soybeans come out of a vaina of 4 to 6 cm. of length, and each vaina could have up to 2 or 3 soybeans. The soy will  grow  in  optimum  conditions  in  warm and tropical  regions.  The soy can adapt its growth to a great  variety of latitudes that go from 0 to 38 grades, and the best yields of the crop are obtained in less than 1000 meter above sea level. This  seed varies  on its  shape from  spherical to  a little  oval  and  between  the colors we can find yellow, black and different tones of brown. 

Harvest 

This  plant  is   very  sensitive  to   sunlight,  and  solar  radiation  controls  the transformation  of  the  growing  cycle  from the flower stage to its mature cycle. The  soy can be  harvested in  different agricultural cycles and it's an important part of the  crop rotations because it  promotes the fixation of nitrogen through the  development   of  nodules   that  fertilize  the  soil.  The  soybeans  can   be harvested approximately 120 days after you plant it.