Athletic fields and tracks are embracing a new era of American-made high-performance sports surfaces that blend cutting-edge technology with plant-based materials, such as soybean oil grown by U.S. farmers. Oregon Episcopal School in Portland and Fresno State University’s Valley Children’s Stadium in California are examples of schools that have installed AstroTurf® RootZone® GT-B Blend, which in 2024 became the first synthetic turf system to earn the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s USDA Certified Biobased Product label. 
“AstroTurf has installed more than 2 million square feet of AstroTurf RootZone in our first year on the market,” said Rob Mitchell, AstroTurf Vice President of Development and Strategy. “We are proud it creates a new use for U.S. soybean farmers at the same time it improves safety, playability, and durability.”
“How exciting to see our crop used in state-of-the-art products like RootZone and Rekortan,” said United Soybean Board Director Barry Alexander, a soybean farmer from Kentucky. “AstroTurf, Rekortan, and Guardian are pioneers for new uses that diversify the demand for U.S. soybeans at the same time they make durable play surfaces that support America’s athletic programs and communities.”
Independently funded research by Michigan State University has shown the RootZone to reduce torque transmitted to lower extremities. The 3D Series adds a RootZone® to basic infilled turf systems with a texturized layer of fibers that encapsulate infill, resulting in minimal rubber splash, better shock absorbency, and less infill migration than traditional systems.
The Oregon installation holds the dual distinction as the first in the nation to also feature a Rekortan® G13 Gel Series track, made with Qualipur ingredients that are certified by USDA’s BioPreferred® Program. Like Rootzone, the Rekortan® G13 Gel Series track is innovative through its use of biobased polyols made from the oil of soybeans grown in America. The track’s gel layer is composed of 84% renewable and recycled materials, offering enhanced energy return and injury-mitigating performance for runners. 
Adding to the innovation, the Fresno field utilizes a third USDA Certified BioPreferred product, Guardian Biobased TPE Infill. In November 2024, Guardian earned the USDA label based on its 49% rapidly renewable materials (soy and corn). It is specifically designed to be a cooler-temperature alternative to traditional crumb rubber for synthetic turf systems. “Our use of U.S. soybean oil allows the infill to remain flexible over time without leaching phthalates, which can interfere with the body’s hormone system,” said Alex Garner, Guardian Sports vice president of strategic accounts.
In its latest Economic Impact Report released by USDA, the biobased products industry contributed $480 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 3.94 million U.S. jobs.