About Firstline Soybean Seeds
Firstline seeds is a company based out of Guelph Ontario where their research center is located (2.). The company was founded in 1982 where 12 of the top seed growers collaborated to produce high quality seed soybeans and focus on the genetic improvement of the soybean (1.). The benefits of genetically improving the soybean are producing plants that are capable of producing more pods per plant which contain more seeds per pod, therefore, increasing yield (3.). In 1995, Firstline Seeds marketed their first food grade soybean seed(1.). Then in 1997, they were able to market their first roundup ready soybean(1.). In 1998, Monsanto became a large shareholder of the company introducing herbicide resistant genes into the crop(1.). Herbicide resistance has been a major benefit to Canadian farmers because it allows the easy control of weeds and pests by spraying the field with the roundup herbicide, eliminating all competing plants and weeds, and reducing the loss from pests drastically (3.). Because Monsanto has introduced the Roundup Ready gene into this product, there is a patent involved(3.). This patent makes it illegal for farmers to hold back seed with this gene and use it for planting in future growing seasons and new seed must be purchased every season (3.). With the genetic work and herbicide resistance now available in the seeds provided be Firstline Seeds, the yield of the soybean plant has increased dramatically and has aided Canadian farmers with producing higher yields of higher quality crops for the past 30 years.
Firstline seeds is a company based out of Guelph Ontario where their research center is located (2.). The company was founded in 1982 where 12 of the top seed growers collaborated to produce high quality seed soybeans and focus on the genetic improvement of the soybean (1.). The benefits of genetically improving the soybean are producing plants that are capable of producing more pods per plant which contain more seeds per pod, therefore, increasing yield (3.). In 1995, Firstline Seeds marketed their first food grade soybean seed(1.). Then in 1997, they were able to market their first roundup ready soybean(1.). In 1998, Monsanto became a large shareholder of the company introducing herbicide resistant genes into the crop(1.). Herbicide resistance has been a major benefit to Canadian farmers because it allows the easy control of weeds and pests by spraying the field with the roundup herbicide, eliminating all competing plants and weeds, and reducing the loss from pests drastically (3.). Because Monsanto has introduced the Roundup Ready gene into this product, there is a patent involved(3.). This patent makes it illegal for farmers to hold back seed with this gene and use it for planting in future growing seasons and new seed must be purchased every season (3.). With the genetic work and herbicide resistance now available in the seeds provided be Firstline Seeds, the yield of the soybean plant has increased dramatically and has aided Canadian farmers with producing higher yields of higher quality crops for the past 30 years.
About the Soybean
The soybean (Glycine max), is a legume native to Asia and is now grown worldwide for its numerous uses (4.). This oilseed is valued for its nutritional content that is made up of approximately 36% protein and 20% fat (4.). Soybeans have become such a valuable crop because of the wide variety of products that can be produced from this oilseed (4.). Approximately 85% of the soybeans produced annually are processed into vegetable oil and soybean meal (4.). The majority of the soybean meal produced is used in livestock feeds because of the protein content, allowing farmers to feed their livestock with a cheap and nutritional source of protein (4.). Other products produced from the soybean are soymilk, tofu, biodiesel and many other products, both industrial and food related (4.). With the nutritional value of the soybean and the endless uses for this oilseed, its evident why this crop has now become one of the major crops produced worldwide in recent years and will only become more valued and more widely grown in years to come.
The soybean (Glycine max), is a legume native to Asia and is now grown worldwide for its numerous uses (4.). This oilseed is valued for its nutritional content that is made up of approximately 36% protein and 20% fat (4.). Soybeans have become such a valuable crop because of the wide variety of products that can be produced from this oilseed (4.). Approximately 85% of the soybeans produced annually are processed into vegetable oil and soybean meal (4.). The majority of the soybean meal produced is used in livestock feeds because of the protein content, allowing farmers to feed their livestock with a cheap and nutritional source of protein (4.). Other products produced from the soybean are soymilk, tofu, biodiesel and many other products, both industrial and food related (4.). With the nutritional value of the soybean and the endless uses for this oilseed, its evident why this crop has now become one of the major crops produced worldwide in recent years and will only become more valued and more widely grown in years to come.
References
(1.)Eastern Ontario AgriNews. (2002). First line seeds 20 years of soybean innovation. Retrieved September 6th, 2014, from http://www.agrinewsinteractive.com/archives/article-3542.htm
(2.) Firstline Seeds. (2014). Company info. Retrieved September 4th, 2014, from http://www.seedtoday.com/companies/FirstLine_Seeds.html
(3.) Monsanto Company. (2014). Advanced traits. Retrieved September 6th, 2014, from http://www.soybeans.com/advanced-technology.aspx
(4.) SoyaTech. (2014). Soy facts. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.soyatech.com/soy_facts.htm
(1.)Eastern Ontario AgriNews. (2002). First line seeds 20 years of soybean innovation. Retrieved September 6th, 2014, from http://www.agrinewsinteractive.com/archives/article-3542.htm
(2.) Firstline Seeds. (2014). Company info. Retrieved September 4th, 2014, from http://www.seedtoday.com/companies/FirstLine_Seeds.html
(3.) Monsanto Company. (2014). Advanced traits. Retrieved September 6th, 2014, from http://www.soybeans.com/advanced-technology.aspx
(4.) SoyaTech. (2014). Soy facts. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.soyatech.com/soy_facts.htm