Mapping the World · Season 37 · Episode 9

The soybean, a geopolitical crop

Friday, March 27 · 13 min

Soy is a key commodity in the global economy. Primarily used as animal feed, the bean is also processed into biodiesel. Trade connects ports in the USA with China and shapes new economic routes. Brazil, the USA, and Argentina dominate the market, but monocultures cause massive environmental damage. Dubbed the "green oil of the 21st century," its trade is reshaping the world map, linking ports in the Americas to terminals in China.