Editing Soybean (section)

===Genetic modification===
{{further|Genetically modified soybean}}
[[File:Multicolor soybeans in Hale Township.jpg|thumb|Different varieties of soybeans being grown together]]
Soybeans are one of the "[[Biotechnology|biotech]] food" crops that have been [[Genetically modified food|genetically modified]], and genetically modified soybeans are being used in an increasing number of products. In 1995, [[Monsanto]] company introduced [[Genetically modified crops|glyphosate-tolerant]] soybeans that have been genetically modified to be resistant to Monsanto's [[glyphosate]] herbicides through substitution of the ''[[Agrobacterium]] sp.'' (strain CP4) [[gene]] EPSP (5-enolpyruvyl shikimic acid-3-phosphate) synthase. The substituted version is not sensitive to [[glyphosate]].<ref>{{cite journal |pages=1451–61 |doi=10.2135/cropsci1995.0011183X003500050032x |title=Development, Identification, and Characterization of a Glyphosate-Tolerant Soybean Line |year=1995 |last1=Padgette |first1=S.R. |last2=Kolacz |first2=K.H. |last3=Delannay |first3=X. |last4=Re |first4=D.B. |last5=Lavallee |first5=B.J. |last6=Tinius |first6=C.N. |last7=Rhodes |first7=W.K. |last8=Otero |first8=Y.I. |last9=Barry |first9=G.F. |journal=[[Crop Science (journal)|Crop Science]]|volume=35 |issue=5}}</ref>

In 1997, about 8% of all soybeans cultivated for the commercial market in the United States were genetically modified. In 2010, the figure was 93%.<ref>National Agricultural Statistics Board annual report, June 30, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.</ref> As with other glyphosate-tolerant crops, concern is expressed over damage to [[biodiversity]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Liu |first= KeShun |title= Soybeans: Chemistry, Technology, and Utilization |url= https://archive.org/details/soybeanschemistr00liuk |url-access= limited |year=1997 |publisher= Springer |location=Berlin|isbn= 978-0-8342-1299-2 |page= [https://archive.org/details/soybeanschemistr00liuk/page/n555 532]}}</ref> A 2003 study<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.2135/cropsci2003.0409 |author=Sneller CH |title=Impact of Transgenic Genotypes and Subdivision on Diversity Within Elite North American Soybean Germplasm |journal=[[Crop Science (journal)|Crop Science]]|volume=43 |pages=409–14 |year=2003}}</ref> concluded the "Roundup Ready" (RR) gene had been bred into so many different soybean cultivars, there had been little decline in genetic diversity, but "diversity was limited among elite lines from some companies".

The widespread use of such types of GM soybeans in the Americas has caused problems with exports to some regions. GM crops require extensive certification before they can be legally imported into the [[European Union]], where there is considerable supplier and consumer reluctance to use GM products for consumer or animal use. Difficulties with [[Co-existence of genetically modified and conventional crops and derived food and feed|coexistence]] and subsequent traces of cross-contamination of non-GM stocks have caused shipments to be rejected and have put a premium on non-GM soy.<ref>{{cite news|title= EU Caught in Quandary Over GMO Animal Feed Imports |newspaper=The Guardian|date= December 7, 2007}}</ref>

A 2006 [[United States Department of Agriculture]] report found the adoption of genetically engineered (GE) soy, corn and cotton reduced the amount of pesticides used overall, but did result in a slightly greater amount of [[herbicide]]s used for soy specifically. The use of GE soy was also associated with greater [[No-till farming|conservation tillage]], indirectly leading to better soil conservation, as well as increased income from off-farming sources due to the greater ease with which the crops can be managed. Though the overall estimated benefits of the adoption of GE soybeans in the United States was $310&nbsp;million, the majority of this benefit was experienced by the companies selling the seeds (40%), followed by biotechnology firms (28%) and farmers (20%).<ref>{{cite web| publisher = United States Department of Agriculture|url=http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib11/eib11.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614154639/http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib11/eib11.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-14 |title = The First Decade of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States |last = Fernandez-Cornejo | first = J. | author2 = Caswell, Margriet|date = April 1, 2006|access-date=February 18, 2012}}</ref> The patent on glyphosate-tolerant soybeans expired in 2014,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/business/18seed.html|title=As Patent Ends, a Seed's Use Will Survive|date=December 18, 2009|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Pollack|first1=Andrew}}</ref> so benefits can be expected to shift.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://extension.udel.edu/kentagextension/2008/11/18/soybean-seed-decisions-2009/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150408022806/http://extension.udel.edu/kentagextension/2008/11/18/soybean-seed-decisions-2009/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2015|title=Cooperative Extension ‹ Log In}}</ref>