Carbon Footprint of Soybean Meal: Methods, Benchmarks, and Claims

The carbon footprint of soybean meal is a measure of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated throughout its life cycle, from cultivation to end-use. It is a critical metric for buyers and sellers in the global market, as it directly impacts supply chain sustainability claims and compliance with environmental regulations. The carbon footprint of a product like soybean meal is a complex calculation, relying on a scientific approach known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

LCA: The Scientific Method for Measuring Carbon Footprint

A Life Cycle Assessment is a standardized, comprehensive methodology used to quantify the environmental impacts of a product from “cradle to grave” or “cradle to gate” (from raw material extraction to a specific point in the value chain). For soybean meal, an LCA typically accounts for all emissions from:

1. Cultivation: This stage is the biggest contributor to the carbon footprint. It includes emissions from the production and application of fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs. It also accounts for diesel fuel used in farm machinery and nitrous oxide (N2​O) emissions from soil.
2. Land-Use Change (LUC): This is often the most significant and controversial component. It measures the carbon released when natural ecosystems, like forests and grasslands, are converted to agricultural land. Soy from regions with a history of deforestation, such as parts of Brazil and Argentina, will have a much higher carbon footprint due to LUC emissions.
3. Processing (Crushing): This includes energy consumption from natural gas or electricity used to crush soybeans into meal and oil.
4. Transportation: Emissions from transporting soybeans from the farm to the processing plant and then shipping the meal to its final destination, whether domestic or international, are also factored in.

The final carbon footprint is often expressed in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of soybean meal (kgCO2​e/kg). The use of “equivalent” accounts for other greenhouse gases, like methane and nitrous oxide, by converting their warming potential to that of CO2​.

Benchmarks and Claims: U.S. vs. Global Competitors

The carbon footprint of soybean meal varies dramatically by country of origin, primarily due to differences in farming practices and the historical context of land use. These variations create opportunities for countries to make “low-carbon” claims to global buyers.

• U.S. Soy: The U.S. has a demonstrably lower carbon footprint for its soy compared to some global competitors. This is due to several factors, including:
  • Low Land-Use Change: The U.S. soy industry has a long history of expansion on existing farmland, not by converting native forests. This avoids the high carbon emissions associated with deforestation.
  • Continuous Improvement: U.S. farmers have made significant strides in improving sustainability. Between 1980 and 2020, U.S. soybean farmers reduced greenhouse gas emissions per bushel by 43% by adopting practices like no-till farming, which sequesters carbon in the soil.
  • High Yields and Efficiency: High-tech precision agriculture and management practices contribute to some of the highest yields in the world, reducing the overall carbon intensity per unit of production.
• Brazilian Soy: The carbon footprint of Brazilian soy is highly variable and often significantly higher than that of U.S. soy, especially when linked to LUC emissions. Soy from the Cerrado and Amazon biomes, where land conversion has been a major issue, carries a substantial carbon penalty. However, soy from regions with no recent LUC can have a footprint that is more comparable to U.S. soy. This is why “deforestation-free” claims are so critical for Brazilian exporters.
• Benchmarking Studies: Third-party life cycle assessments and databases, such as Agri-footprint and the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI), provide a benchmark for comparing the carbon footprints of soy from different countries. These studies consistently show a wide range of values, reinforcing the importance of a product’s origin and production method.

How Buyers and Sellers Use Carbon Footprint Data

For both buyers and sellers, the carbon footprint of soybean meal is a key driver of business decisions.

• For Buyers: Corporations with ambitious climate goals, such as large food companies or animal feed producers, need to reduce their Scope 3 emissions—those in their supply chain. They will actively seek out and, in some cases, pay a premium for low-carbon soybean meal to meet their targets and comply with regulations like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
• For Sellers: U.S. soy exporters use their low carbon footprint as a competitive advantage. They use certifications like the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) to provide verifiable proof of their sustainability claims. This allows them to secure market access in environmentally conscious regions like the European Union and differentiate their product from competitors.