Soybean Innovation Lab

12/19/2025

Managing crop risk at scale requires more than seasonal decisions.

As soybean operations grow, complexity increases — more locations, larger teams, tighter timelines, and higher expectations from markets. In this context, relying on individual experience or ad-hoc decisions is no longer enough.

Organizations that perform consistently over time invest in:
✓ protect high-value seed and commercial production
✓ reduce operational uncertainty across locations
✓ detect and respond to disease threats earlier as conditions change
✓ support market-led growth without increasing risk

Strong field diagnostic readiness helps protect high-value seed and commercial production, reduce operational uncertainty, and support market-led growth without increasing risk.

That’s why leading agribusinesses treat diagnostic readiness not as a technical add-on, but as a core operational strategy.

📋 Interested in strengthening your organization’s diagnostic readiness?
Complete the Soy Doctor™ Interest Form: [https://tinyurl.com/soydoctor-interestform]

Connect directly with Dr. Harun Muthuri Murithi, one of Africa’s leading experts in soybean disease management.

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Validated by science. Applied for field results.

12/18/2025

Continual improvement comes to Nigerian soybean processors.

The Soybean Innovation Lab’s (SIL) Soy 360°™ moves firms from theory to practice. Last week, SIL, in partnership with AOCS, USSEC, Zinpro, and USDA|FAS, engaged with 45 processors in Ibadan, Nigeria to identify practical opportunities for immediate efficiency and profitability gains.

Over five days, processors, facilitators, and partners focused on real operational decisions, not idealized scenarios. Discussions moved across edible oil extraction, refining, feed manufacturing, and quality systems, always grounded in what actually happens inside a plant.

A highlight of the week was a technical visit to the production floor at Premium Edible Oil Products Ltd., where concepts turned into concrete examples and everyday decisions became easier to frame.

By the end of the training, participants rated the value of their time at 9.8 out of 10, citing how immediately applicable the insights were.

Several themes consistently emerged:
• learning directly from experienced practitioners
• small, measurable improvements
• the value of seeing processes at scale

This is what Soy 360°™ is designed to deliver: not a one-off course, but a space where technical knowledge, peer exchange, and practical application come together.

As the program moves forward, SIL will continue working with processors and partners to help turn insights into action through future Soy 360°™ trainings and tailored, facility-level support.

👉 Interested in learning more about Soy 360°™ and ongoing technical engagement?
Contact the Soybean Innovation Lab at soybeaninnovationlab@illinois.edu
And subscribe to receive future updates and insights: [https://tinyurl.com/sil-news]

12/10/2025

Should U.S. growers look to Africa as the next big market?

Over the past few weeks, Peter Goldsmith and co-authors Guy Allen and Mike Doherty, partnered with farmdoc to publish a three-part series examining Africa’s growing food and oil demand, soybean import trends, and key country markets.

In this short video, Peter introduces the question behind the three-part series.

📩 Our latest newsletter brings the full picture together, highlighting key insights from all three articles and linking directly to each one.

🔗 Access the full series and key takeaways in our newsletter:
https://tinyurl.com/sil-newsletter-articles

12/05/2025

Next week, the Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL), in partnership with AOCS, USSEC, Zinpro, and USDA|FAS, will bring together Nigeria’s leading edible oil and feed processors in Ibadan for a high-impact Soy 360°™ technical training.

What is Soy 360°™?
A hands-on, industry-focused program that helps processors improve efficiency, product quality, and overall performance with soy.

Over five days, technical experts will work directly with plant managers, engineers, and nutritionists on:
• soy oil extraction & refining efficiency
• soybean meal quality and DT/DC optimization
• poultry nutrition & feed manufacturing
• the value of U.S. soybean
• quality control, safety, and accountability systems

Our theme for the week is “What is your 1%?”
Small, practical improvements — measured and implemented — can significantly reduce losses, raise profitability, improve throughput, and elevate product quality.

These are the same principles SIL applies when supporting processors across Africa through Soy 360°™ and Processor-to-Processor™ (P2P) consulting.

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Explore recent SIL and farmdoc insights on U.S.–Africa soybean trade:

🔗 Africa’s growing food and oil demand - https://tinyurl.com/article-farmdoc-sil
🔗 Africa’s expanding soy import needs - https://tinyurl.com/article-farmdoc-sil2
🔗 Key African markets for soy imports - https://tinyurl.com/article-farmdoc-sil3
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👉 To enhance your processing capabilities through SIL’s Soy 360°™ and P2P™, contact the Soybean Innovation Lab at soybeaninnovationlab@illinois.edu

12/04/2025

The Bigger Picture — and the People Behind the PAT™

Across Africa, the soybean seed sector depends on one essential principle: trust in data. When results aren’t comparable across countries, companies face uncertainty in commercialization, registration, and market expansion.

The Pan-African Variety Trials™ (PAT™) were created to solve exactly this challenge.

Through coordinated multi-country trials, the PAT™ provides:
✓ credible, comparable datasets
✓ faster and more confident product registration
✓ standardized, cross-border protocols
✓ lower-risk commercialization pathways
✓ a coordinated, long-term planning framework
✓ and a low-cost solution for partners who need reliable, multi-location data

But behind this infrastructure is something just as important: the people who make it work.

Breeders, researchers, field coordinators, analysts, and commercialization specialists collaborate each season to strengthen Africa’s soybean seed systems through trusted data.

In the carousel, you’ll also find insights from the PAT™ team and partners working behind the scenes.

Want to connect with the team behind the PAT™?
📩 Fill out this short form: https://tinyurl.com/PATinterest
📧 Or contact Eric Sedivy directly — esedivy2@illinois.edu

— Validated by science. Built for market adoption.

12/02/2025

🌍 A Milestone for SIL — and for Soybean Development Across Africa

We’re excited to share an important step forward for soybean development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Gates Foundation is supporting the expansion of SIL’s Pan-African Variety Trials™ (PAT™) — a platform proven to accelerate the release of high-performing soybean varieties tailored to local environments and farmer needs.

✨ This work goes beyond research — it drives real impact.
Stronger seed systems, better varieties for farmers, and more resilient markets across the region.

👉 Read the full article:
https://aces.illinois.edu/news/soybean-innovation-lab-project-expand-soybean-markets-africa-new-grant

Developing a thriving soybean market in Africa doesn’t just represent a new crop in the rotation for smallholder farmers — it builds an entire ecosystem of seed companies, processors, and trade partners ready to enter the global soybean market.

11/21/2025

Africa’s Soy Import Demand: What the Data Shows

We’re continuing our 3-part series co-authored by Peter Goldsmith, Guy Allen, and Mike Doherty, looking at whether Africa could become the next major export market for U.S. soy.

This week’s article breaks down key data on Africa’s rising reliance on soy imports:

• Africa imports the soybean equivalent of 2.1B bushels/year (2010–2022 average).
• Soybean grain imports are growing at 8% CAGR.
• Processors operate at 40–60% overcapacity, needing 200M bushels to keep plants running.
• Processor demand is increasing almost 2× faster than palm oil imports and 3× faster than soybean oil.

These trends show that Africa’s import needs are large — and structurally embedded in its processing and consumption systems.

At the Soybean Innovation Lab, we see a fast-emerging market where understanding today’s data will shape tomorrow’s opportunities.

👉 Read the full article: https://tinyurl.com/article-farmdoc-sil2
Next week: deep-dives into Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

11/18/2025

Late diagnosis costs money — and it happens faster than most teams realize.

Every week of delay in diagnosing soybean diseases can turn a small infection into a major outbreak, quietly reducing yield and shrinking profit margins.

Diseases like soybean rust account for 36.3% of the soybean yield gap in Southern Africa*. Late responses also lead to higher management costs, disrupted production plans, and weaker supply reliability.

That’s why the Soy Doctor™ Program exists.
Partners receive:
1️⃣ A season-long disease management plan
2️⃣ Hands-on training to identify symptoms early
3️⃣ Real-time, in-season support

⏱️ Every day counts when your business depends on performance.
📋 Complete the Soy Doctor™ Interest Form: https://tinyurl.com/soydoctor-interestform

Connect directly with Dr. Harun Muthuri Murithi, one of Africa’s leading experts in soybean disease management.

—
Validated by science. Applied for field results.

*Omondi et al., 2024. Sustainable Agriculture, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00039-9.

11/17/2025

Africa’s Food & Oil Demand Is Shifting: The World Should Pay Attention

We’re excited to share a new article co-authored by Peter Goldsmith, Guy Allen, and Mike Doherty: “Should U.S. Growers Look to Africa as the Next Big Market? Understanding Africa’s Food and Oil Demand Trends.”

Africa’s rapid urban growth, rising incomes, and evolving diets are reshaping the continent’s demand for food, edible oil, and value-added soybean products — creating one of the most significant emerging opportunities for global soybean stakeholders.

Key points from the analysis:
•The structural rise in demand for food and vegetable oil across Sub-Saharan Africa
• The gap between local production and consumption
• The market, logistical, and regulatory factors that shape long-term viability
• Why understanding Africa’s diversity is key for any business seeking sustainable market entry

At the Soybean Innovation Lab, we believe that building value in the soy value chain depends on combining global insight, local ex*****on, and science-driven solutions.

Read the full article: https://tinyurl.com/article-farmdoc-sil
And consider: What role will Africa play in your supply chain or business strategy over the next 5–10 years?

11/13/2025

The soybean season is approaching in Zambia!

SIL research shows that using fresh, high-quality seed delivers a strong return — at least 3x your investment.

One variety stands out: GNA Emerald, one of Zambia’s top-performing soybean varieties.

Recently tested through the Pan-African Variety Trials™ (PAT™), Emerald achieved 2.25 MT/ha — 1.79× the national average (1.26 MT/ha, 2023) and outperformed other top varieties by up to 504 kg/ha.

Developed by Good Nature Agro and validated through SIL’s PAT™, Emerald shows how credible data and science turn promising genetics into market-ready products.

Looking for access to high-quality seed?
SIL can connect you directly with the GNA sales team, known for delivering high-purity, high-performance soybean seed across the country.

https://tinyurl.com/PATinterest
—
Validated by science. Built for market adoption.

11/06/2025

Protect Your Soybean Investment This Season! 🌱

Soybean rust can be devastating — but it’s actually highly manageable.

Don’t take the chance! Start working with the Soy Doctor™ today and be assured your soybean crop will be a success.

Even with strong genetics, without early pest and disease diagnosis, top-performing varieties can underdeliver. The Soy Doctor™ Program, developed under SIL’s science-driven approach through the Pan-African Variety Trials™ (PAT™), helps detect, manage, and prevent disease threats before they impact your yield.

📋 Fill out the Soy Doctor™ Interest Form [https://tinyurl.com/soydoctor-interestform] to connect directly with Dr. Harun Murithi — Africa’s leading expert in soybean disease and pest management.

From Data to Diagnosis – Validated by science. Applied for field results.