IMPORTANCE OF SOYBEAN

 The soybean crop annually occupies more than 10 million acres of land in Illinois and the crop produced has a value of approximately $3 billion. It is a rotational crop with corn, and is often double-cropped with wheat in southern areas of the state and region. Illinois contributes about 15 % of the total U.S. soybean production. More than 40 % of the crop is annually exported.

Approximately 60 % of soybeans are used in animal feed. Other major uses include cooking oils, margarine, tofu and other inputs into human diets, and bio-diesel. Worldwide, consumption of soybean in human diets utilizes nearly 1 % of the crop. This % continues to increase as improvements in tastefulness of foods with soybean as a major component occur and as soybean has been recognized as a health food. The demands for soybean production are expected to continue to increase as world population increases to 8-9 billion by 2050.

 The need will continue for soybean research, teaching and outreach to provide information and personnel to the soybean production and utilization community.

WHAT IS CESRTO ?

         The Center for Excellence in Soybean Research, Teaching and Outreach (CESRTO) has been created to serve the needs of stakeholders in soybean production, processing and consumption. 

                The concept for this Center is based on a strong tradition at Southern Illinois University Carbondale of  research on soybean, training students using soybean as a model crop, and outreach on soybean production and utilization. The location of the university geographically, topographically and environmentally in a transition zone between northern and southern regions of soybean production gives it a unique opportunity to address problems of soybean management that are state, regional and national in scope.

 CESRTO is a Center without “walls” currently drawing upon over 30 faculty and support staff from the College of Agriculture, College of Science and the School of Medicine for its programs and resources. The dynamics of a diverse array of interests and disciplines within the Center should assure that most areas of soybean research, teaching and outreach can be addressed by multi-disciplinary teams.

MISSION

 The mission of CESRTO is to enhance soybean production and utilization in Illinois and the North Central region, increase soybean utilization by the global community, contribute to the base of scientific knowledge and educate human capital. 

 OBJECTIVES 

The objectives of CESRTO are to:

 ·  develop cultivars and germplasm that enhance production and value

·   conduct research on soybean that increases basic knowledge and contributes to practical applications 

·   provide educated human capital utilizing soybean as a model 

·   facilitate technology transfer of research outcomes to growers, to the soybean industry and to consumers 

·   form consortia with public and private organizations to enhance research, teaching and outreach for mutual benefit 

·   encourage multi-disciplinary research and improve external funding opportunities.

PROGRAM  AREAS

 HEALTH: IMPROVE UTILIZATION OF SOY-ENHANCED PRODUCTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH

NUTRITION: ENHANCE HUMAN AND ANIMAL NUTRITION BY IMPROVING QUALITY OF SOYBEAN COMPOSITION  

CROP PRODUCTION: IMPROVE CULTURAL METHODS TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABLE SOYBEAN PRODUCTION 

CROP IMPROVEMENT: IMPROVE GERMPLASM FOR PLANT DISEASE AND INSECT RESISTANCE, SEED QUALITY AND  YIELD  

CROP PROTECTION: IMPROVE PEST AND WEED CONTROL METHODS 

BIOTECHNOLOGY: IMPROVE PLANT AND SEED CHARACTERISTICS, PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION, AND TECHNIQUES FOR PLANT SELECTION 

GENOMICS: SEQUENCE AND CHARACTERIZE THE SOYBEAN GENOME TO IDENTIFY GENES AND THEIR FUNCTION  

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY:IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT BY RESEARCHING AND PROMOTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND SOY PRODUCTS AS A RENEWABLE RESOURCE

 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: IMPROVE GROWER, SUPPLIER AND CONSUMER  KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EDUCATION

 EDUCATION: PROVIDE CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR TECHNICAL CAREERS IN THE SOYBEAN AND RELATED INDUSTRIES 

SOCIO-ECONOMICS: USING SOCIO-ECONOMIC TOOLS TO ASSESS THE ACCEPTANCE OF TECHNOLOGIES FOR SOYBEAN PRODUCTION AND USE