Soybean and its components are valuable raw materials for the food and feed industries in the Philippines. Whole beans are mainly used as full-fatted protein meal for livestock after extrusion cooking. They are also processed into various food products such as soymilk and tofu or soybean curd (taho and tokwa). Soybean meal, the by-product of oil extraction, is used mostly as the main source of protein for feeds by the livestock industry. It is also the main ingredient for making ordinary soy sauce (toyo) using the acid hydrolysis method. Soybean oil is used for both food and industrial applications. It is also available in supermarkets as cooking oil. Soybean meal is the most important component of the soybean complex. Here are some facts on the local situation:
