To help Illinois soybean farmers capitalize on market opportunities for high oleic, low linolenic (HOLL) soybean oil, this project continues the breeding efforts to select and license varieties that combine competitive yields with the value-added SOYLEIC™ trait. The team has a full breeding pipeline and intends to release two to four new varieties each year.

• Health concerns over trans-fats have decreased use of soybean oil as a food product. The University of Missouri has developed a soybean trait that has improved oil quality via non-GMO breeding. Marketed as SOYLEIC, the varieties contain greater than 80% oleic acid and less than 3% linolenic acid (high oleic and low linolenic, or HOLL).
• The improved stability of SOYLEIC oil is opening the door to other industrial/non-food markets, including as a base for motor oil, in automotive lubricants, in marine oils, in hydraulic fluids and more.

• Illinois farmers will have more options for high-yielding SOYLEIC varieties adapted to the various growing environments across the state. This will allow them to capitalize on premium market opportunities in the food industry and various industrial uses.

• Dr. Eliana Monteverde, Assistant Professor, UIUC
• Conner Hodge, Research Specialist, UIUC
• Jacob Tammen, Senior Research Specialist, UIUC
• Sarah Schultz, Senior Research Specialist, UIUC
• Troy Cary, Research Specialist, UIUC

• Statewide

Dr. Eliana Monteverde
Assistant Professor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
217-300-7658
elianam@illinois.edu