The soybean Glycine max or soya bean3 is a species of legume native to East Asia widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses Fat free defatted soybean meal is a significant and cheap source of protein for animal feeds and many packaged meals For example soybean products such as textured vegetable protein TVP are ingredients in many meat and dairy substitutes4 The beans contain significant amounts of phytic acid dietary minerals and B vitamins Soy vegetable oil used in food and industrial applications is another product of processing the soybean crop Traditional non fermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk from which tofu and tofu skin are made Fermented soy foods include soy sauce fermented bean paste natto and tempeh The main countries growing soybeans are the United States 32 of world total 2016 forecast Brazil 31 and Argentina 18
