The United States is losing soybean market share to Brazil in China over protein. Ten years ago, the U.S. supplied China 38 percent of its soybeans, compared to 34 percent from Brazil. Now, Brazil supplies 57 percent of Chinese imports compared to 31 percent from the U.S. United Soybean Board Chairman Lewis Bainbridge says his organization is trying to help America’s soybean growers improve protein levels through several avenues.

He says U-S-B will spend $5.6 million this fiscal year on research and other efforts to boost protein in soybeans and meal, which is up from $3.7 million last year.

Bainbridge says their directors are meeting in St. Louis this week and are also looking at how to improve international market opportunities. This includes developing nation’s like India and preserving existing markets such as China and Mexico.

A decline in protein levels makes soybeans less valuable to the $400 billion feed industry in China.