Soybean vs. Soybean Meal: What’s the Difference?

1. Soybean (Whole Bean):

• A raw agricultural product, harvested from the soybean plant.

• Used in various forms — whole, split, or processed — for food (tofu, soy milk, soy flour), oil extraction, or industrial uses.

• Contains high oil content, fiber, protein, and is also used in human consumption and oil production.

2. Soybean Meal:

• A by-product of soybean oil extraction — what’s left after most of the oil is removed.

• Rich in protein (up to ~48%), making it a key ingredient in animal feed for poultry, cattle, pigs, and fish.

• Not typically consumed by humans but essential in the agriculture and livestock sectors.