Soybeans

This passage details the advantages and disadvantages of soybean crops.

Lexile Level: 1120L

Categories: Sports & Health Science & Technology Animals & Nature

Soybeans are one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. The plant is native to eastern Asia and is still one of the most commonly cultivated crops in China, Korea, and Japan. However, the majority of the world's current soybean production occurs in the United States. Soybeans are primarily used to make oil and animal feed. A small portion of the crop is also processed for human consumption in the form of soy milk, tofu, and a large variety of processed foods. While the soybean is high in protein and other nutritional elements, there is controversy regarding its use. Many strains of the soybean plant have been genetically modified to resist pesticides. The effects on human health due to the consumption of such genetically modified food are still unknown. In some areas of the world, growing soybeans has had adverse effects on the environment. In Brazil, for example, farmers often cut down huge areas of indigenous rain forests to clear the land for the crop.