Summary
The world is facing a food crisis. The UN World Food Programme warned that "a record 345 million acutely hungry people are marching to the brink of starvation”.
Soybeans are the world's most traded crop, a key ingredient in most animal feed. Poultry and pig farmers everywhere depend on soybean meal to grow their livestock.
In Asia, soy is also a cheap protein source. Tempeh and Tofu are an important part of Indonesia’s diet, especially among the poor.
But soy prices have skyrocketed, reaching record levels in the second half of 2022. Drought in South America, and supply chain issues, are wreaking havoc on soy production. Farmers in places like Vietnam have felt the pinch of rising prices.
China, the world’s biggest soy importer by far, is treating the soy issue as a food security problem. The country wants to boost domestic production, but this could prove a...