The University of Missouri was designated by the U.S. Congress as the site for the new National Center for Soybean Biotechnology (NCSB). The foundation for this National Center was the Center for Soybean Genomics and Biotechnology, previously formed at the University of Missouri in support of interdisciplinary research on the genomic structure and function of soybean genes. The ultimate goal of the NCSB is to provide innovative molecular approaches that can be applied toward soybean improvement.

The NCSB is a collaborative program among scientists at the University of Missouri, USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Unit in Columbia, and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO. There are currently more than 40 researchers working together that have expertise in diverse fields including agronomy, microbiology and plant pathology, chemistry, biochemistry, animal science, food science, molecular biology, engineering, computer science, and agricultural economics.

The University of Missouri is supported through a statewide Life Sciences program. Interdisciplinary research in the Life Sciences Center employs cutting-edge technology in both basic and applied research to address societal concerns in food, health and the environment.

In addition to NCSB support, scientists working in the Center continue to be highly competitive for funding from a variety of other sources including the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC), federal agencies, and private industry.

Strategically located in the heart of the nation, the NCSB aims to foster research partnerships with institutions in the mid-western and southern states. Soybean is a major crop in these regions. Research within the NCSB focuses on major problems that affect soybean production and use, and the Center also provides educational opportunities to students and outreach services to producers, public agencies, and consumers.