How Soy Farming Impacts Earth More Than You Think

From my experience working closely with crop production systems, the soy industry has evolved dramatically since the 1960s, becoming one of the most valuable agricultural sectors globally. Soybeans, as a legume, hold a unique position in agriculture due to their high protein content and role in animal feed. The global demand for soy has surged, leading to an expansion in both land area and production rates now increasing nearly 13 times compared to several decades ago. This growth, while beneficial economically, raises questions about the cost to the environment and the sustainability of expanding farms and fields dedicated to this crop.

How Soy Farming Impacts Earth More Than You Think

Working on a farm, the sight of a tractor carving neat rows of soybeans into the land is familiar. The challenge is balancing productivity with environmental stewardship. Soy cultivation requires extensive land, often competing with natural habitats. Around the world, soy occupies the fourth largest crop land area, underscoring its critical importance. However, intensive farming can degrade soil health and increase deforestation, contributing negatively to local ecosystems. It is vital to employ sustainable practices to mitigate these environmental impacts while meeting the soaring demands of the soy industry.

Where Is Soy Farmed?

In my research and travels across major soy-growing regions, I’ve often seen how countries like Brazil, the U.S., and Argentina have become central to global soybean production. Brazil, now the leading soybean producer, grows about 133 million tonnes, surpassing the U.S., which produces around 117 million tonnes, followed closely by Argentina, China, India, and Paraguay. Across the globe, this agricultural rise has reshaped land use dramatically especially in South America, where production has more than doubled between 2000 and 2019. Much of this expansion has occurred where cattle pastures once dominated, with beef producers purchasing land and converting or clearing forest areas for soybean-producing land.

While 81 percent of soybean-producing land in Brazil expands through the Cerrado savanna, deforestation has also scarred regions such as the Amazon rainforest, Argentina’s Chaco dry forest, Paraguay’s Atlantic Forest, Bolivia’s Chiquitania forest, and Uruguay’s Campos grasslands. During a visit to the Midwest in the U.S., I observed how Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota excel in higher crop yields through advanced technology and soil management. Yet, that agricultural expansion also destroyed large stretches of tallgrass prairies, once home to diverse species and complex root systems. As both a researcher and observer, I’ve realized the global spread of soy cultivation tells a story not just of productivity but also of transformation one that questions how much land we can afford to lose in pursuit of more soy.

How Many Soy Farms Are There in the U.S.?

• The 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture reported nearly 300,000 farms in the U.S. that produce soybeans, highlighting the crop’s central role in American agriculture.

• Around 19,500 farms are large-scale operations covering at least 1,000 acres, while a small number manage the largest soy crops with more than 5,000 acres under cultivation.

• Small soybean producers form a minority, as large producers increasingly dominate the sector in terms of output and influence.

• Comparing figures from 2012, the number of farms less than 250 acres then made up 70 percent of all soy farms, yet they produced only 23 percent of that year’s soybean crop.

• The shift demonstrates consolidation in the industry larger farms are growing at a faster rate, while smaller ones face pressures from resource limitations and competition.

From my field experience observing

 across states, it’s evident that modern technology and efficiency favor large-scale operations, altering the balance of the U.S. soybean landscape.

How Much Soy Production Is for Animals?

• Many people mistakenly blame the high demand for soy on plant-based foods like tofu, tempeh, edamame beans, and soy milk, but these account for only a small share of total soy use.

• Research and field data indicate that only 19.2 percent of soy for humans is consumed directly, while approximately two-thirds is processed into oil and meal.

• About 77 percent of all soy grown is used to feed farmed animals, particularly those raised for factory-farmed meat such as chickens, pigs, and poultry, fueling massive poultry production.

• The world’s biggest consumer of soy is not humans, but chickens and other domestic fowl, which alone consume nearly 37 percent of all soy produced globally.

• These farmed birds, especially in intensive systems, are routinely fed soy because it is high protein, which helps promote growth and improve feed efficiency.

• Despite its nutritional value, soy is not a natural diet for most livestock; it supports a production system designed for rapid growth rather than ecological sustainability.

• Having observed these operations firsthand, I’ve learned how soy’s role as animal feed sustains industrial farming efficient, yes, but often environmentally costly.

Why Is Soy Bad for the Environment?

Monoculture and Resource Depletion

• Though soy is often labeled a sustainable plant protein for human consumption, most of it goes to feed farmed animals in intensive farming practices that create significant environmental harm.

• In my field experience, I’ve seen how soybeans rotation with corn can temporarily boost farming productivity, but prolonged monoculture systems deplete natural resources such as soil and water, while increasing greenhouse gases through fertilizer and land-use changes.

• These short-term yields come at the cost of long-term sustainability, as the system prioritizes output over ecosystem stability.

Agrochemical Dependency

• Heavy use of agrochemicals has accelerated biodiversity loss and increased vulnerability to disease and insects, requiring increased pesticides for control.

• With the rise of genetically modified (GM) and herbicide-tolerant (HT) varieties, farmers have become reliant on sprayed chemicals, inevitably leading to cumulative environmental damage.

• The 2020 Agricultural Chemical Use Survey by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) found that:

  • Herbicides are used on nearly 98 percent of U.S. soybean land

  • Fungicides on 22 percent

  • Insecticides on 20 percent

• These statistics highlight how deeply chemical dependence has become embedded in modern soy production.

Ecological Impact

• While such methods maintain yields, they degrade soil health, contaminate water resources, and disrupt natural ecosystems.

• Based on research observations, I’ve seen firsthand how soy cultivation for livestock feed, rather than for direct human benefit, increases farming intensity and ecological pressure.

• The resulting cycle of higher inputs and reduced biodiversity has become one of the core challenges in modern soybean agriculture.

Soil Erosion, Degradation, and Compaction

Declining Soil Fertility

• From my research experience, fertile soil essential for growing food is rapidly deteriorating due to continuous agricultural activity like plowing land and heavy crop cultivation.

• While soil naturally erodes and degrades, human intervention has accelerated the process drastically.

• Over the past 150 years, half of the planet’s topsoil has been lost, and in Iowa, known for its fertile loam topsoil, the average depth of topsoil has dropped from 14–18 inches in the 20th century to only 6–8 inches.

• A 2010 study showed how declining soil quality in croplands over the last 50 years has reduced organic matter, increased acidity, and degraded structure.

Impact of Mechanization

• The expansion of soy plantations across huge areas and the rise of bigger farms using bigger equipment have worsened soil compaction.

• Heavy farm vehicles and machinery involved in tillage operations intended for loosening soil often damage soil structure, leaving it prone to compaction.

• Once compacted soil forms, it becomes lower quality, less productive, and less fertile soil, forcing dependency on external fertilizers to retain yield.

• I have witnessed in multiple field studies how conventional farming methods, though efficient short term, lead to irreversible soil pressure and loss of resilience.

Fertilizer Dependence

• To maintain productivity, soybean production in the U.S. during 2020 required enormous fertilizer inputs:

  • 3 billion pounds of potash

  • 2 billion pounds of phosphate

  • 450 million pounds of nitrogen

  • 138 million pounds of sulfur

• This artificial compensation highlights how degraded soil depends on chemicals rather than natural regeneration.

• Over time, the result is a cycle of nutrient depletion and dependence, eroding both soil health and sustainable farming potential.

Water Usage and Effects on Water Quality

Water Consumption and Irrigation

• In my research trips across soy farms in the U.S., I often witnessed how soy farming draws heavily on freshwater, both from ground water and surface water sources.

• According to 2015 estimates, 42 percent of the nation’s crop irrigation depended on artificial systems using pipes and sprinklers, especially for soybeans and corn, which remain the most irrigated crops.

• Unlike regions relying solely on rainwater dependence, irrigation increased significantly; by 2017, over 8,300 farms reported fully irrigated soybean crops, while another 16,600 farms managed partially irrigated plots covering about 9 million acres of irrigated land under soybean production.

• Such extensive irrigation highlights how modern agriculture’s thirst for water can challenge long-term sustainability.

Soil and Water Quality Impacts

• The negative impacts of huge soy farms go beyond consumption they trigger serious soil impacts and water quality deterioration.

• During heavy rain, loose soil particles from soil erosion flow into rivers and streams, producing sediment that clouds waterways, creating murky water.

• This siltation restricts sunlight depletion, lowers photosynthesis levels in aquatic vegetation, and leads to oxygen depletion, harming fish and freshwater biodiversity.

Chemical Runoff and Pollution

• The widespread use of agrochemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers, on soybean fields intensifies water pollution.

• Through surface water movement and agricultural runoff, or seepage into groundwater, these chemicals create dead zones downstream, especially in oceans and estuaries.

• Having observed runoff patterns firsthand during field studies, I’ve noted how poorly managed irrigation and excessive chemicals amplify contamination that spreads far beyond the fields, leaving long-lasting harm to aquatic ecosystems.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Global Impact and Soy’s Role

• The world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture reach nearly 8.1 gigatonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) annually.

• About 41 percent, or 3.3 gigatonnes CO2-eq, arises from animal agriculture, largely through animal feed production, where soy ingredient plays a critical role.

• From my experience studying soy farm emissions, I’ve seen how processes like agricultural expansion, processing, and transportation contribute to a growing carbon footprint in soybean production.

Land-Use and Energy Contributions

• Large-scale land-use change through native vegetation clearing releases massive carbon stores, fueling global warming potential.

• Energy consumption for mechanical operations and fertilizer use increases emissions, especially in U.S. Midwestern counties where production intensity is high.

• Research shows 22 kilograms CO2-eq per kg soybeans produced in these regions, reflecting both soil disturbance and high input reliance.

Comparing Dietary Impacts

• Studies prove that eating soy directly has a lower environmental impact than consuming animals fed soy.

• A major meta-analysis on global food production found emissions of about 1.98 kilograms CO2-eq per 100 grams protein from tofu, compared to 4.21 to 49.89 kg CO2-eq for animal products, with beef representing the highest end.

• This comparison demonstrates that dietary shifts toward soy-based foods can reduce agriculture’s overall GHG contribution.

Life-Cycle Perspective

• Life-cycle analysis highlights how soybean production emissions emerge at every stage from field clearing to processing and transport.

• Even with these challenges, promoting responsible consumption and improved farming practices could reduce total carbon footprint.

• In my research, I found that sustainable techniques and minimized energy consumption bring measurable reductions, offering practical steps toward climate resilience.

Social Impacts of Soy Farms

Effects on Rural Communities

• The social impacts of expanding soy farms reach far beyond the environment, shaping livelihoods and communities across regions dependent on soybean production.

• In my agricultural field experiences, I’ve seen how large-scale agriculture encourages economic growth, but also widens income inequality among rural communities.

• Smallholder farmers often feel pressured into selling land to industrial enterprises that dominate soybean production in South America, especially across Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

• The rise of massive soy estates has reduced secure land tenure, with reports showing that some operations threaten, violently attack, or steal land from Indigenous peoples and long-term residents, disrupting farming traditions and freedom of choice.

Occupational and Health Hazards

• Those working on intensive farms and surrounding soybean fields face significant occupational hazards linked to the heavy use of hazardous chemicals.

• Repeated exposure to such substances contributes to chronic health issues among agricultural workers and humans living nearby.

• A widely cited 2013 incident in Brazil showed the human cost of chemical dependency over thirty school children were hospitalized after being sprayed by airplane spraying pesticides from nearby fields where soybeans and corn were grown.

• The children, along with teachers, displayed symptoms of pesticide poisoning, underscoring the fragile relationship between agricultural progress and human health.

Broader Social and Security Outcomes

• In export-driven economies, the dominance of soy farms has made land and labor a point of social tension.

• Agricultural workers often face insecure employment, inadequate protection, and poor security, leaving local populations vulnerable.

• These realities challenge the idea of sustainable development, proving that the environmental cost of soybean production is inseparable from its social and human toll.

While soy plays an essential role in global agriculture, the cumulative evidence from soy farms worldwide makes it clear that its environmental and social footprint cannot be ignored. From soil degradation, water pollution, and escalating greenhouse gas emissions to displaced rural communities and health risks among agricultural workers, the challenges of soybean production extend beyond the farm. Much of the damage stems from large-scale, industrial soy farming driven by global demand for animal feed, which intensifies land-use pressure and biodiversity loss. My professional observations across various regions indicate that true sustainability will depend not only on improving cultivation practices but also on rethinking how societies use and value soy ensuring balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and human well-being.

FAQS

Is Soy Production Bad for the Environment?

From my research perspective, large-scale soy farming has often proven bad for environment due to extensive deforestation, biodiversity loss, and heavy agrochemicals use linked to large-scale soy cultivation for animal feed. Although soy is celebrated as a source of high-protein foods, the main driver of environmental strain remains the industrial demand for livestock rather than soy product consumption such as tofu, which carries a smaller environmental footprint and can be considered more environmentally friendly when cultivated responsibly.

Is Soy Bad for the Soil?

In my research, I’ve observed that soybean production can contribute to soil erosion when pesticides and fertilizers seep into the ground, depleting vital resources and harming surrounding wildlife, which ultimately affects their survival.

What Are the Problems with Soybean Farming?

From my experience studying soybean farming, I’ve seen how economic hardship caused by tariffs, low prices, and market volatility often forces farmers into intensive farming that worsens environmental damage like soil erosion and water pollution. The heavy use of agrochemicals and reliance on herbicides increases pests, diseases, and a lack of crop diversity, while high input costs, financial losses, and dependence on loans continue to deepen the economic effects for growers.

What Is the Indian Name for Soybeans?

In India, the soybean or soyabean scientifically known as Glycine max Merrill is locally called kulti in Central India, bhat in the Kumaon Hills, and gari-kalai in Bengal, reflecting its integration within indigenous systems of medicine and religious ceremonies across the major religions of India.

Which Vegetable Is Known as Poor Man’s Meat?

In traditional diets and agricultural systems, beans have long been called the poor man’s meat because their seeds, whether mature or immature, serve as a protein-rich vegetable source. Both the leaves and pods of certain bean varieties are also consumed, making them a versatile and sustainable food option across farming communities.

Is Soy Destroying the Rainforest?

The world’s increasing appetite for meat remains the primary driver behind soy production growth, making it one of the leading causes of rainforest destruction, with soy linked to nearly 33 percent of global deforestation tied to products imported by regions like the EU.