Edgar B. Cahoon
Plant Genetics Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service

Soybean oil is a renewable raw material for a wide variety of industrial products, including inks, plasticizers, and paints. The range of potential applications can be expanded by genetic improvements that alter the fatty acid composition of soybean oil. Technical challenges and costs associated with the develop- ment and production of these new oil traits are the major hurdles that currently limit the commercial potential of this research.

Key words: Soybean, oil modification, fatty acid, genetic engineering.