High oleic soybeans produce a premium oil that contains at least 70% oleic acid, commonly known as monounsaturated fat, making the oil more stable at high temperatures. The oil is edible, with zero trans fats, creating a heart-healthier option for baking and frying. Plus, it is naturally resistant to oxidation, which provides a longer shelf life for foods that use it as an ingredient. 

Beyond health benefits, high oleic soybean oil can be used as a renewable, bio-based alternative to petroleum-based fluids along with other industrial applications.  

And more recently, there is increased interest in whole high oleic soybeans as feedstock for dairy cattle, since the legume shows to decrease the risk of milk fat suppression, a common problem encountered by dairy producers when feeding commodity ingredients. 

To all of that, high oleic soybeans are produced in the U.S. to meet our food and industrial demands – both domestic and abroad with the potential for U.S. farmers to receive a premium per bushel at harvest. This requires identity preserved systems to keep high oleic soybeans separate from commodity soybeans. 

Most of these high oleic beans are grown in Midwestern states, like Indiana and Ohio, and in Mid-Atlantic states like Maryland and Delaware – where identity preservation systems exist. 

Related:High oleic soybeans provide performance

Nevertheless, this bean is suitably grown in the Delta. But how can farmers market this crop when the area lacks elevators and crush facilities within reasonable distance? What is the future of high oleic soybeans in terms of Midsouth crop production? 

History of high oleic beans

Let’s go back to the beginning. Before high oleic oil, the food industry depended on partially hydrogenated oils and fats for modern food production. This process created oils with longer shelf life and increased stability under high heat conditions. However, hydrogenation resulted in the production of unhealthy, trans fatty acids. 

Almost 50 years ago, scientific research concluded the negative impact of consumed trans fats on human heart health. This prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to act. By 2015, the FDA ruled that partially hydrogenated oils were unsafe for humans, and the administration provided a timeline to ban such fats from foods and beverages by 2018. 

Researchers at companies and universities were aware of this timeline and proactively worked to change the fatty acid composition of soybean oil to alleviate the connection with cardiovascular disease. The goal was to produce a stable, healthier oil for consumers. 

Related:Why grow high-oleic soybeans?

In the soybean world, two of the biggest seed companies released genetically modified (GM), high oleic soybean varieties. Their first releases were in 2012 in preparation for the FDA regulation.  

At the same time, research was underway at the University of Missouri to develop a non-GM, high oleic trait. This came after a natural mutation was discovered at the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville. Adding this natural, genetic trait to high-yield soybean lines required multiple years of breeding and development. 

These soybean varieties are now known as SOYLEIC soybeans with the patent owned by the University of Missouri and the USDA. SOYLEIC was commercially released in 2017. The brand is exclusively licensed by the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. Now in 2025, other seed companies are in-licensing the technology to produce high yielding, non-GM, soybean varieties in maturity groups 1 through 7. 

The Delta needs high oleic facilities 

Did you know that most vegetable oils on the grocery store shelf are products of soybeans? Additionally, since the FDA ban of trans fats, high oleic soybean oil is now included as a healthier ingredient for Nestlé liquid non-dairy coffee creamers and the oil that fries your favorite Frito-Lay potato chips. 

The ability to use this oil is more of an immediate-use situation. The location of the harvested, high oleic crop is a key factor for commercialization. 

“What we have seen is everywhere that high oleic is prolific is a location where grain can be stored and crushed within an identity preserved system. Then it is then processed into oil and meal for the food industry,” said Bryan Stobaugh, Missouri Soybeans director of licensing and commercialization. 

The largest production areas are mostly in the central Midwest. Stobaugh said to bring this oil market to the Delta would require crush and use facilities in the region. 

“Right now, we do not have that in the Midsouth. So, we need to grow with attractive crush facility options and delivery points to make high oleic acres grow in the Midsouth. We need viable demand – meaning a delivery point.”  

“We have an excellent point of delivery to the Delta,” he said, in reference to the Ohio, Missouri, and Arkansas rivers that empty into the Mississippi River.  

“With access to these main waterways, the Midsouth soybean growers could grow high oleic soybeans through contracted programs to potentially supply export buyers who are looking to purchase whole seeded high oleic soybeans to crush within their own country and markets.” 

Market demand is steady 

High oleic soybeans and oil are becoming an integral part of U.S. food production. However, in America, you will not find high oleic soybean oil directly on our plates or the supermarket shelf. Instead, you must spin the bottle or container around to find it listed as an ingredient in various branded products. 

Stobaugh said, “You won’t see it on the shelf, because in most situations it is being direct fed to animals, or it is going straight into food production and manufacturing.” 

Demand for high oleic soybeans remains steady and relative to the market. Like any commodity, or specialized commodity, it depends on the end user. Stobaugh said the demand increases seen in 2022 and 2023 dipped in 2024 due to the overall market price of oil. 

“We held steady with the larger need and interest of SOYLEIC use in the dairy market in 2024,” he said. Dairy demands along with non-GM crush, will carry into 2025. 

So how can a Delta soybean farmer include high oleic beans in their strategic plan? 

John Jansen, vice president of marketing with the United Soybean Board, said, “Farmers want high oleic as a point of differentiation against Brazilian alternative conventional beans. So, anything that has a value-added component is still being investigated in by the U.S. bean. Varieties are still under development, specifically under the area of the non-GMO components through the Missouri program.” 

For Midsouth farmers, this means finding the best variety for their location. In some cases, finding a crush facility, or a way to sell whole beans for dairy cattle consumption could lead to expansion.  

Stobaugh said, with SOYLEIC, it is also a matter of identifying and creating a business model for a delivery point to provide adequate aggregation of the identity preserved crop. 

“This comes down to state check off programs of qualified soybean boards working together to create a true package and opportunity for a functional crush facility in the Midsouth to come into play, based on the sustainability of our bean crop which can be crushed and used for oil and have optimal protein content for our U.S. standards of use,” Stobaugh said. 

Looking at the research, development and data, the need for high oleic holds true. Now we must figure out how to achieve this in the Midsouth where the naturally bred soybean variety, SOYLEIC, was born.