Zeeland Low-Linolenic Soybeans In Michigan

NEW YORK - Sep 6/05 - SNS -- Monsanto and Zeeland Farm Services, Inc. entered an agreement to allow Zeeland to process Vistive low-linolenic soybeans in 2006 and market the resulting oil to the food industry.

Vistive low-linolenic soybeans will reduce the need for partial hydrogenation of soybean oil, helping food companies reduce the presence of trans fatty acids (trans fats) in their products.

Next year, Zeeland will contracting up to 25,000 acres of Vistive soybeans in Michigan. Zeeland will pay some level of premium to contract growers. It will crush and sell the processed soybean oil to food companies.

Developed through conventional breeding, the variety contains less than 3% linolenic acid compared to 8% found in traditional soybeans. The result is a more stable soybean oil, with less need for hydrogenation, thereby making it possible to reduce the presence of trans fats in the processed oil.