Book excerpt: Soybean vs. other vegetable ois as a source of edible oil products. Composition of soybeans and soybean products. Physical properties of soybean and soybean products. Harvest, storage, handling, and trading of soybeans. Overview of modern soybean processing and links between processs. Extraction. Soybean meal processing and utilization. Soybean protein processing and utilization. Handling, storage and transport of crude and crude degummed soybean oil. Degumming and lecithin production and utilization. Neutralization. Bleachin/adsorption treatment. hydrogenation and base stock formulation procedures. Deodorization.Soybean oil crystallization and fractination. Interesterification. Soybean oil, mayonnaise, and salad dressings. Consumer and industrial margarines. Soybean oil products utilization: shortenings. Industrial uses for soybeans. Soy foods. Nutritional aspects of soybean oil and protein. Soybean processing quality control. Environmental concerns in soybean processing. Cost estimates for soybean processing and soybean oil refining. Plant management.