And the global south’s land. Soybeans grown for wealthy countries are often more profitable than local staple crops. Not to mention that growing the same crop year after year depleted nutrients in the soil, so replenishing it artificially is necessary even if the locals somehow manage to get the land back.
I’m not arguing in favor of livestock farming in general. The issue with growing soy is that imperialism incentivizes irresponsible use of the land and exploitation of the people and resources of the global south. Soy farming could be done far more responsibly without capitalism.
What would be done with the beans if they weren’t used for livestock feed? They’re being grown anyway because of the oil so there wouldn’t be much of an impact on how much is grown
Yeah the issue I’m concerned with is exploitation of the global south. The food is grown for exports and the farms are owned by people who don’t care about the local population. It’s certainly possible to use crop rotation of lentils, soy, etc to keep the soil fertile. Veganism isn’t the problem, imperialism is. I think reducing dependence on animal products is a goal that should be pursued. I’m just worried about how it will be done by capitalists
Do you have a source on this? I'm skeptical, because everything I've read on the subject has pointed to there being a lot of reasons for soy's ascendance (nitrogen-enriching soil, good protein/fat for livestock, the versatile oil you mentioned). I haven't seen it explained as "it's for the oil, animal feed is incidental byproduct." In fact, when I read about future projections of soy's growth, this growth is almost always tied to its role as a good feed for livestock. Example:
"The importance of soy on the global market is not likely to decrease anytime soon. With growing demand for meat around the world in places such as China, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that soy production will continue to increase dramatically, from around 276 million metric tons in 2013 to 390 million metric tons by 2050. Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, or Argentina may be likely to fill that demand."
This comes from the most recent article of this sort I've come across:
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/soybeans
Not saying that's like the gospel truth, but since I've never really seen your particular take I'm curious where it's coming from.
https://foodsource.org.uk/building-blocks/soy-food-feed-and-land-use-change
There are some whole-bean products made for humans, but those are grown from specific cultivars that are made to look and taste good to humans. Most soy is not from those cultivars.
"Few of us are aware of how much soy we eat - because we tend to consume it indirectly. We may not eat large quantities of soy directly, but the animals we eat, or from which we consume eggs or milk, do. In fact, almost 80% of the world’s soybean crop is fed to livestock, especially for beef, chicken, egg and dairy production (milk, cheeses, butter, yogurt, etc). Soy oil is used for cooking and can also be found in margarine, chocolate, ice cream or baked goods, as well as in cosmetics or soaps. Soy production has more than doubled over the last two decades."
And the global south’s land. Soybeans grown for wealthy countries are often more profitable than local staple crops. Not to mention that growing the same crop year after year depleted nutrients in the soil, so replenishing it artificially is necessary even if the locals somehow manage to get the land back.
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70% by weight is livestock feed because the beans are difficult for humans to digest. The oil is extracted for the soy products that humans consume.
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I’m not arguing in favor of livestock farming in general. The issue with growing soy is that imperialism incentivizes irresponsible use of the land and exploitation of the people and resources of the global south. Soy farming could be done far more responsibly without capitalism.
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excuse me youre denying the southern bourgouise agency here youre doing a western chauvinism
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What would be done with the beans if they weren’t used for livestock feed? They’re being grown anyway because of the oil so there wouldn’t be much of an impact on how much is grown
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Yes it would. The 70% figure is by weight. The beans are grown for the oil and the beans themselves are fed to livestock.
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Yeah the issue I’m concerned with is exploitation of the global south. The food is grown for exports and the farms are owned by people who don’t care about the local population. It’s certainly possible to use crop rotation of lentils, soy, etc to keep the soil fertile. Veganism isn’t the problem, imperialism is. I think reducing dependence on animal products is a goal that should be pursued. I’m just worried about how it will be done by capitalists
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Do you have a source on this? I'm skeptical, because everything I've read on the subject has pointed to there being a lot of reasons for soy's ascendance (nitrogen-enriching soil, good protein/fat for livestock, the versatile oil you mentioned). I haven't seen it explained as "it's for the oil, animal feed is incidental byproduct." In fact, when I read about future projections of soy's growth, this growth is almost always tied to its role as a good feed for livestock. Example:
"The importance of soy on the global market is not likely to decrease anytime soon. With growing demand for meat around the world in places such as China, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that soy production will continue to increase dramatically, from around 276 million metric tons in 2013 to 390 million metric tons by 2050. Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, or Argentina may be likely to fill that demand."
This comes from the most recent article of this sort I've come across:
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/soybeans
Not saying that's like the gospel truth, but since I've never really seen your particular take I'm curious where it's coming from.
https://foodsource.org.uk/building-blocks/soy-food-feed-and-land-use-change There are some whole-bean products made for humans, but those are grown from specific cultivars that are made to look and taste good to humans. Most soy is not from those cultivars.
Let he who is without soy cast the first boy.
"Few of us are aware of how much soy we eat - because we tend to consume it indirectly. We may not eat large quantities of soy directly, but the animals we eat, or from which we consume eggs or milk, do. In fact, almost 80% of the world’s soybean crop is fed to livestock, especially for beef, chicken, egg and dairy production (milk, cheeses, butter, yogurt, etc). Soy oil is used for cooking and can also be found in margarine, chocolate, ice cream or baked goods, as well as in cosmetics or soaps. Soy production has more than doubled over the last two decades."
https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/our_focus/food_practice/sustainable_production/soy/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20almost%2080%25%20of,butter%2C%20yogurt%2C%20etc).&text=Soy%20production%20has%20more%20than%20doubled%20over%20the%20last%20two%20decades.,-But%20the%20rising