With China not currently a dominant soybean buyer, U.S. agriculture is seeking new markets. Iowa State University chemist Eric Cochran and civil engineer Chris Williams have developed a new domestic use. It is a soy-based asphalt that uses soybean oil polymers as a sustainable replacement for petroleum-based materials.

This innovation began in response to a 2008 shortage of synthetic polymers used in asphalt. Cochran’s lab discovered that soybean oil’s long molecular chains could mimic the elasticity and durability provided by petroleum-based polymers.

Backed by the Iowa Soybean Association and United Soybean Board, the researchers built a pilot plant. In 2018, they produced their first soy-based pavement. A startup launched in 2020 now markets the product commercially.

Soy polymers perform well and offer price stability. This reduces infrastructure project risk compared to volatile petroleum-based polymers. Soy polymers also help offset supply fluctuations tied to the energy market.

Beyond paving roads, the researchers envision soybean oil transforming refinery operations by creating renewable industrial materials rather than fuel. This breakthrough could turn soybeans into a key component of sustainable infrastructure. It can create steady domestic demand.

Read more about the potential of soy-based asphalt here.