With their $2-million in funding from government and industry, Prof. Istvan Rajcan and his soybean team are taking on a new frontier with their research: the automotive industry. This will be one of the many expected endeavors of Rajcan's team in the upcoming years.

Soybean oils are already used extensively the auto industry, for the production of seat cushion foam and various coatings.

Different varieties of soybeans are used for different purposes depending on their composition. The soybeans used for vehicle applications would have a higher oil content than those varieties used for food production.

Rajcan said he expects to have "a variety of varieties" within the next two years.

Other projects include developing varieties with greater resistance to soybean cyst nematoad, along with food varieties with increased levels of sapions and isoflavones, which are thought to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

Rajcan was featured here in the Western Producer : http://www.producer.com/2014/05/soybean-research-money-to-target-automotive-sector/