What United Soybean Board does

The United Soybean Board (USB) is a federally chartered, farmer-directed checkoff program established under the 1990 Farm Bill, governed by 77 farmer-directors who direct approximately $121 million in mandatory annual checkoff contributions from U.S. soybean farmers into research, market development, and promotion. Headquartered in St. Louis, USB operates the soynewuses.org platform as an industrial outreach channel and works in close coordination with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to drive export demand across 90+ countries.

Its core technological capabilities span the full soybean derivative stack: formaldehyde-free soy adhesives (PureBond technology with over 100 million plywood panels produced since 2006), soy-based coatings and inks, high oleic soybean oil (HOSO) for lubricants, epoxidized soybean oil as a PVC plasticizer, vulcanized vegetable oil for tire rubber, soy polyols for polyurethane foams, soy protein fibers and electrospun nanofibers with bacterial filtration properties, methyl soyate solvents, and soy-based bioremediation and pavement restoration chemistries. Commercial adopters include Ford (foam and rubber components), Goodyear (Assurance WeatherReady tires), Columbia Forest Products (PureBond plywood), Huda Beauty (lip gloss), Indiana DOT (PoreShield concrete protection), and Ethox Chemicals (E-Sperse aerospace dispersants).

USB does not sell products directly; its revenue model is a quasi-governmental, recurring annual appropriation of checkoff dollars deployed through R&D grants, university partnerships (e.g., $4M/5-year pledge to Kansas State University), trade partnerships (USSEC), and the Soy Excellence Centre technical training program (5,000+ international graduates). End products reach markets through partner manufacturers' own distribution channels. The portfolio spans ten industrial categories: adhesives, coatings, fiber, ingredients, lubricants, paper, plastics, rubber, solvents, and biofuels/biodiesel.

Name

United Soybean Board

Legal name

United Soybean Board

Website

https://soynewuses.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The United Soybean Board is a federally chartered farmer-directed checkoff program that invests approximately $121 million annually of U.S. soybean farmer assessments to fund industrial research, develop 1,000+ soy-based products, and promote exports across 90+ countries through partnerships with manufacturers and the U.S. Soybean Export Council.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Checkoff Programs

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Soybean Farming (AFAGABAA)

Keywords

• Soybean checkoff program
• Agricultural market development
• Soy-based industrial products
• Biobased materials research
• Commodity promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesterfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Soy Checkoff Program: The Soy Checkoff program is a farmer-directed investment initiative established under the 1990 Farm Bill. U.S. soybean farmers contribute through a mandatory checkoff, with the 77-member United Soybean Board directing $121 million in checkoff dollars from soy farmers. These funds are invested to transform the U.S. soybean industry, create new demand categories including biodiesel, expand exports, and develop industrial consumer products.
2. Checkoff dollar allocation: The board directs $121 million in checkoff dollars annually from soy farmers, which funds research, market development, and promotion activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The United Soybean Board (USB) operates the national Soy Checkoff program, directing approximately $121 million annually in farmer-funded checkoff dollars to invest in research, market development, and promotion for U.S. soybeans. The organization funds R&D to develop soy-based industrial applications across adhesives, coatings, lubricants, plastics, rubber, solvents, paper, and fiber, and partners with manufacturers to commercialize over 1,000 soy-based products replacing petroleum-based materials.

Product overview

The United Soybean Board operates soynewuses.org as an informational portal and product showcase for the soy-based industrial products industry. The platform features a directory of over 745 soy-based products across 10 major categories: Adhesives, Coatings, Fiber, Ingredients, Lubricants, Opportunities (including Biodiesel), Paper, Plastics, Rubber, and Solvents. The core technology is soybean oil and soy meal derivatives used as industrial ingredients and performance additives. Key product categories include soy-based adhesives (formaldehyde-free wood adhesives), soy-based coatings (paints, inks, traffic paint), soy-based lubricants (motor oils, greases, hydraulic fluids), soy-based plastics (polyols, thermoset plastics), and soy-based rubber (tire processing oils, vulcanized vegetable oil). Notable commercial products include PureBond Hardwood Plywood (over 100 million panels produced), Goodyear soy-based tires, and various industrial products from approximately 275 listed companies. The platform also provides technical resources, case studies, and consulting support for manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• soynewuses.org: A USB-funded website showcasing industrial applications and commercial products using U.S. soy, featuring company listings, product catalogs, and technical resources for manufacturers.

Products and services

• Soy-Based Adhesives Water-based adhesive systems formulated with natural soy flour and proprietary crosslinking resin that form durable, water-resistant thermoset adhesives. Used in engineered wood products, plywood, particleboard, and engineered wood flooring. Reduces volatile organic compounds and is formaldehyde-free.
• Soy-Based Coatings Soybean oil-based coating technologies including UV-curable resins, soy-modified latexes, reactive diluents, and soy-based polyurethane formulations for architectural, industrial, and wood stain applications.
• Soy-Based Fiber Soy protein fibers developed through melt-spun and dry-spinning processes for nonwoven applications, geotextiles, and filtration. Soy hull cellulose blended with polyethylene or polylactic acid for commercial fiber applications. Includes high oleic soybean oil fiber for marine mooring lines.
• Soybean Oil and Meal Ingredients Soybean oil and meal derivatives used in personal care products, alkyd resins, polyols for foam, and specialty fermentation applications. High oleic soybean oil offers increased stability for synthetic lubricant base stocks. Epoxidized soybean oil serves as a plasticizer in PVC applications.
• Soy-Based Lubricants Renewable soybean oil-based lubricants offering high viscosity index, enhanced lubricity, low volatility, and low flammability. Includes motor oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, and penetrating lubricants. BioSynthetic Technologies received ILSAC GF-5 certification for SAE 5W-20 and 5W-30 grade passenger-car motor oil formulations.
• Biodiesel and Biobased Opportunities Soybean oil used as feedstock for biodiesel and renewable diesel. Includes biodegradable mulch films, soy-based pavement restoration agents (77% soy-based solution for asphalt repair), and groundwater bioremediation technology using emulsified soybean oil.
• Soy-Based Paper Products Soy derivatives used as sizing agents, stickies removal agents, retention and drainage aids, and barrier coatings in paper manufacturing. Includes soy-based sludge technology and soy chemistry for paper strength aids.
• Soy-Based Plastics Soy technology for thermoplastics (combining soy with polyethylene and polypropylene), thermoset plastics (soy polyols for polyurethane products), and bioplastics. Includes epoxidized soybean oil as secondary heat stabilizer and co-plasticizer in flexible PVC applications.
• Soy-Based Rubber Vulcanized Vegetable Oil (VVO/factice) and functionalized soybean oil for rubber compounds used in tires. Improves ozone resistance, aging properties, and processing characteristics. Soybean oil serves as process oil and polymer extender in natural rubber and styrene butadiene rubber compounds.
• Soy-Based Solvents Methyl soyate (methyl ester derived from soybean oil) used as key ingredient or carrier solvent in eco-friendly cleaning formulations. Offers very low flammability, high flash point (greater than 360°F), low VOCs (less than 50g/L), low toxicity, and is not a Hazardous Air Pollutant or ozone-depleting chemical.
• PureBond Hardwood Plywood Sustainable decorative plywood paneling made with soy-based adhesive developed by Columbia Forest Products in partnership with United Soybean Board. Over 100 million panels sold since 2006. Formaldehyde-free, water-resistant adhesive based on mussel-inspired soy-flour protein technology. Earned EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Award in 2007.
• Soy Products Guide/Company Listings Comprehensive directory of over 745 soy-based industrial products from approximately 275 companies. Includes products across categories: adhesives, beauty, coatings, fiber, ingredients, lubricants, paper, plastics, rubber, and solvents.

Quantifiable outcome

• U.S. soybean production doubled from approximately 2 billion to over 4 billion bushels annually since 1990
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026USSEC and USB work together to promote U.S. soy globally. USSEC presented at the USSEC & US Soy Nigeria: Now Conference 2026, promoting collaboration, knowledge transfer, and sustainable farming practices.
• American Heart AssociationminorOthers · 1 May 2026USB-aligned research findings align with long-standing global dietary guidance from organizations such as the American Heart Association and the U.S. FDA on polyunsaturated fats from seed oils.
• Southeast Asian MarketsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026USSEC targets increasing soybean meal exports to Southeast Asia from 16 million to 22 million metric tonnes within five years. The region is identified as strategically important amid shifting global trade dynamics.
• Soy Excellence CentreflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Technical training facility that has graduated over 5,000 Nigerians since launch, resulting in measurable improvements including 15-20% increase in pellet production and 10% cost reduction at one feed mill.
• Kansas State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Kansas Soybean Commission pledged $4 million over five years to Kansas State University's Ag Innovation project, supporting research on soy-based products including concrete sealers, carpet backing, paint, insulation, and biodiesel commercialization.
• Indiana Soybean AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020With support from USB and Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Indiana Department of Transportation treated six bridges in Wabash county with PoreShield concrete protector using soybean oil.
• Cresset Chemical CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2018Cresset developed Bio-Tru ALL-Xtra with Poly-Release using soybean oil for concrete form release agents, earning BioPreferred certification from USDA.
• Goodyear Tire and Rubber CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2017Goodyear released Assurance WeatherReady tires featuring soybean oil, demonstrating improved tire performance and wet weather traction. Long-standing relationship built on reliability, sustainability and performance.
• Ford Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Ford has used soy-based foam for seat cushions, seatbacks and vehicle headliners for several years and has expanded successful use of soy in automotive applications.
• Columbia Forest ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership to develop PureBond Hardwood Plywood using soy-based adhesive technology. Since 2006, over 100 million formaldehyde-free plywood panels have been produced. The technology won the Presidential Green Chemistry Award in 2007.
• U.S. Soybean FarmersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990USB operates the Soy Checkoff program, a farmer-directed investment initiative established under the 1990 Farm Bill, directing $121 million annually from soy farmers to transform the industry.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC): USB's sister organization under the soybean checkoff umbrella, USSEC leads international market development and trade servicing for U.S. soy. Directly comparable as a sister checkoff-funded entity with overlapping farmer-director oversight and shared mission of expanding U.S. soybean demand globally.
• American Soybean Association: The industry-policy and lobbying arm for U.S. soybean farmers, ASA operates in parallel to USB's checkoff research/promotion function. Comparable as a national soybean industry body representing the same farmer constituency with advocacy rather than direct R&D.

Direct peers

• National Corn Growers Association: Parallel farmer-funded checkoff organization for U.S. corn, structured almost identically to USB: commodity checkoff dollars, farmer-directors, R&D investment, market development, and biofuel advocacy. Highly comparable business model and governance.
• Cattlemen's Beef Board: The beef checkoff program - structurally the closest possible analog to USB: federally chartered, mandatory producer assessments, USDA oversight, checkoff-funded research and promotion. Directly comparable governance, funding, and mandate.
• National Pork Board: The pork checkoff program with similar mandatory-checkoff, USDA-overseen structure to USB. Comparable in governance, R&D investment model, and use of producer funds for domestic and international promotion.
• U.S. Wheat Associates: Checkoff-funded export market development organization for U.S. wheat; comparable in mission (expanding U.S. agricultural commodity exports globally) and in working with farmers and USDA on overseas market access - directly parallel to USSEC's role for soybeans.
• Dairy Management Inc. Operates the dairy checkoff program under similar federally-chartered, farmer-director, USDA-overseen structure to USB. Comparable scale, mandate for demand development, and use of producer-funded R&D to open new product categories.
• National Cotton Council: Cotton industry's umbrella promotion and research organization, funded by checkoff-style producer assessments. Comparable in representing a U.S. row-crop commodity on R&D, market development, and policy advocacy similar to USB's soybean mandate.
• Almond Board of California: Federal marketing order checkoff program for California almonds with the same USDA-overseen, mandatory-assessment, farmer-led structure as USB. Comparable in governance and in deploying checkoff dollars for export expansion and applied research.

Emerging players

• Clean Fuels Alliance America: The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry association, whose members are a key demand category developed by USB-funded soybean oil biodiesel programs. Highly adjacent as both collaborator (via USSEC/USDA partnerships) and beneficiary of USB's biofuel advocacy work, including the 2026 half-RIN lobbying campaign.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unitedsoy

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Soybean Board