A review of conventional and rapid analytical techniques coupled with multivariate analysis for origin traceability of soybean

Soybean has developed a reputation as a superfood due to its nutrient profile, health benefits, and versatility. Since 1960, its demand has increased dramatically, going from a mere 17 MMT to almost 358 MMT in the production year 2021/22. These extremely high production rates have led to lower-than-expected product quality, adulteration, illegal trade, deforestation, and other concerns. This necessitates the development of an effective technology to confirm soybean's provenance. This is the first review that investigates current analytical techniques coupled with multivariate analysis for origin traceability of soybeans. The fundamentals of several analytical techniques are presented, assessed, compared, and discussed in terms of their operating specifics, advantages, and shortcomings. Additionally, significance of multivariate analysis in analyzing complex data has also been discussed.

Automated summary

Soybean is considered a superfood due to its nutritional content, health benefits, and versatility. Its demand has significantly increased since 1960, reaching almost 358 million metric tons in the production year 2021/22. However, this high production has led to concerns such as lower product quality, adulteration, illegal trade, and deforestation, necessitating the development of effective technology for soybean traceability. This review investigates current analytical techniques and multivariate analysis for confirming the origin of soybeans, discussing their operating specifics, advantages, shortcomings, and the significance of multivariate analysis in analyzing complex data.