This research implements long and short-term priorities of the United Soybean Board for improved intrinsic quality of soybeans. The strategies are addressed by 14 subprojects conducted by 13 outstanding scientists from MN, SD, MO, AR, TN, NC, and GA. The combined expertise of this team in plant breeding, biology, genetics, pathology, and physiology will provide genetic resources, genomic tools, and fundamental information needed to expedite development, evaluation, and commercial production of agronomic soybean varieties exhibiting superior meal attributes that include increased total metabolizable energy, improved essential amino acid balance, and enhanced digestibility for feed applications.

Develop breeding populations for agronomic northern and southern varieties with high yield, higher-protein, improved amino acid composition; increased digestible carbohydrate and lower phytate plus SCN and root-knot nematode resistance; develop DNA markers for high protein; identify new high protein germplasm for use in breeding, investigate the genetic determinants of seed composition; evaluate broiler performance with hi-protein low phytate diet formulations; and evaluate the impact of amino acid changes on protein feeding efficiency.

Implement the long and short-term priorities of the Better Bean Initiative.