By Blake Jackson
Missouri researchers have completed an eight-year effort aimed at giving farmers a competitive advantage through specialty soybeans engineered for improved taste, enhanced nutritional traits, and consistent yields.
The project, known as “HOLL Plus,” was led by Kristin Bilyeu and Andrew Scaboo. Its mission was to develop high-yield soybean varieties with premium qualities, including Missouri’s SOYLEIC high oleic trait. By combining advanced breeding techniques with molecular selection, the team incorporated multiple valuable seed traits into maturity group III and IV soybeans, widely grown in the state.
The resulting varieties produced roughly 90% of the yield of standard check varieties in 2024 trials, while offering characteristics prized by specialty food markets.
One key breakthrough paired the high oleic trait with enhanced carbohydrate profiles, improving flavor for plant-based protein products.
“We’ve dramatically improved flavor profiles while keeping yields strong,” the researchers noted. Such improvements could open higher-value opportunities for Missouri farmers, with premiums in specialty markets typically ranging from $1 to $3 per bushel.
The program also introduced soybeans carrying the Enlist E3 herbicide trait, allowing farmers greater weed control without sacrificing quality traits. Although funding limitations brought the project to a close in 2024, a private industry partner is continuing some of the work outside Missouri’s main maturity groups. A patent application for “soybean plants having improved flavor” has been filed, signalling potential commercialisation.
These advancements provide Missouri farmers with more options, combining strong agronomic performance with access to specialty contracts.
The innovations help strengthen profit margins, offer flexibility in marketing, and contribute to farm resilience amid fluctuating commodity prices.
The HOLL Plus project demonstrates how modern breeding and genetic tools can create soybean varieties that meet evolving market demands.
By delivering better flavor, high nutritional value, and robust yields, these specialty soybeans lay a foundation for Missouri growers to explore higher-value markets, from plant-based foods to livestock feed, while ensuring future varieties remain competitive.
Photo Credit: istock-ds70
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Soybeans, Education