Xintian Soybeans

Xintian Soybeans

Xintian soybeans are a protected geographical indication product.

　　Xintian soybeans are a specialty of Xintian County in Yongzhou, Hunan.

　　Known as the “Land of Three Beauties,” southern Hunan’s Xintian boasts a pristine ecological environment, pleasant scenery, and air and water quality that exceed national first-class standards. The entire region has selenium-rich soil and produces a wealth of delicious foods, making it an ideal place for health and longevity. The county’s renowned agricultural products—including rice, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, and grass-fed geese—are all rich in selenium. In particular, Xintian’s organic selenium-rich soybeans, which are high in calcium and protein, have the highest protein content in China and are considered one of the best health foods for wellness and longevity. Winning on quality, Xintian soybeans benefit from perfect natural conditions and hold an absolute advantage in developing high-end, premium, and branded products. The Xintian soybean industry is entering a springtime of development focused on improving quality, accelerating growth, and increasing efficiency.

　　Located in a subtropical monsoon climate zone, Xintian enjoys mild weather, distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, and ample heat, earning it the title of “Greenhouse County of Southern Hunan.” It is also known as the “Hometown of Rice Stone Soil.” According to a geophysical survey and assessment conducted by the Hunan Geological Survey Institute, the entire county lies within a selenium-containing or selenium-rich ecological environment. Areas with moderate selenium levels (≥0.2mg/kg, <0.4mg/kg) cover 431.4 square kilometers, accounting for 43.23%, while areas with rich selenium levels (≥0.4mg/kg) span 566.6 square kilometers, or 56.77%. Moreover, the selenium-rich strata are thick, of high quality, and have moderate selenium concentration, along with essential trace elements such as zinc, and are free from pollution by heavy metals or other toxic substances. As a result, the vast rice stone soil farmland produces crops rich in organic selenium, providing ideal natural conditions for cultivating non-GMO, high-protein, selenium-rich soybeans. Authoritative tests show that Xintian soybeans contain about 0.15mg/kg of selenium and over 46% protein, both ranking first in China. Local farmers have a long tradition of growing soybeans and making soy products, leading to farming models such as “soybean-rice rotation” and “soybean-sweet potato intercropping.” The county has established a 100,000-mu (about 6,667 hectares) base producing 20,000 tons annually of high-calcium, high-protein, selenium-rich soybean raw materials. A wide variety of wild soybean species thrive across the region, drawing attention from experts and offering valuable germplasm resources for national soybean research. In 2011, Xintian was honored as a “Province-Level Original Ecological Selenium-Rich Food Base County” and a “Selenium-Rich Soil Development and Research Base” by Hunan Province. At the Fifth China (Hunan) Mountain Village Food Competition held in Changsha, Xintian cuisine shone brightly, winning four awards—most notably for Shiyang Vinegar Water Tofu—with its “Selenium-Rich Soybean Series Products” being named “Designated Products” of the competition.

　　The Xintian soybean industry is entering a period of rapid development. Guided by the philosophy of “Green Leadership,” it fully leverages the advantages of selenium-rich soil and strontium-rich water to build a “natural selenium-strontium” brand that is rooted locally, faces the nation, and reaches the world. The selenium-rich green food raw material bases implement “five unifications management” to promote standardized planting and large-scale operations. Efforts are actively underway to obtain organic food certification and establish well-known brands and geographical indications. Promotion and packaging of “selenium-strontium” products are being enhanced to boost Xintian’s visibility, amplify brand effects, expand industrial influence, and improve product competitiveness. The county collaborates with research institutions and universities to tackle technical challenges, successfully integrating production, academia, and research. The Xintian County Soybean Association has partnered with South China Agricultural University, undertaking 12 batches and over 100 national soybean variety regional trials, introducing more than 10 high-quality new soybean varieties for field trials and demonstrations, and jointly establishing a high-quality soybean seed breeding base—all with commendable results. Led by Nian Hai, the South China Agricultural University technical team has worked tirelessly for eight years to support the Xintian soybean industry, providing seed resources, technical guidance, and operational assistance. They undertook the technical project “Improving the Yield Performance of Xintian May Yellow Soybeans,” invited and accompanied domestic and international experts to visit and guide Xintian, and helped create a favorable external environment for the industry’s development. The Hunan Provincial Special Science and Technology Office assigned Dr. Jiang Liwen from Hunan Agricultural University as the resident Xintian science and technology commissioner, dedicated to guiding the development of the local soybean industry. In recent years, Xintian has actively implemented three key technical measures—“variety improvement, farming reform, and technological enhancement”—achieving the three major goals of “high quality, high yield, and high efficiency” in soybean cultivation. Over eight years, 30,000 mu of high-quality, high-yield new varieties have been introduced and promoted, with the proportion of quality varieties exceeding 95%. According to acceptance results from the Yongzhou Science and Technology Bureau for the Xintian County project on introducing, demonstrating, promoting high-quality high-yield soybeans, and applying supporting technologies: the new Yuechun 03-3 soybean variety achieved an average yield of 228.5 kg per mu, surpassing the local “May Yellow” soybean yield (139.5 kg/mu) by 89 kg per mu—an increase of over 63%. ■Hu Shushun

　　The production area of Xintian soybeans covers the administrative regions of 17 towns in Xintian County, Hunan Province, including Jicun, Lengshuijing, Longquan, Lianhua, Maoli, Jian Tou, Shizi, Jinpingwei, Sanjing, Maojia, Dapingtang, Zhishi Ping, Xinlong, Gaoshan, Xinwei, Shiyang, and Taoling.

　　“Request from the People’s Government of Xintian County on Delimiting the Protected Geographical Indication Product Area of Xintian Soybeans,” Xinzhen [2013] No. 138

　　Xintian County Agricultural Technical Regulations: HNZ008-2013 “Xintian Soybean Production Operation Procedures”

　　Information Source: Sanxiang Metropolis Daily