History of Natto and Its Relatives (1405-2012 - SoyInfo Center

production of Plasmin, further helping to break down the
Fibrin.” Address: Dep. of Physiology, Miyazaki Medical
College, Miyazaki 889-16, Japan.
1221. Okafor, N. 1987. Upgrading local technologies of food
processing with emphasis on fermented foods: the case of
oils and fats. In: O.C. Aworh, ed. 1987. Proceedings 11th
Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science
and Technology (NIFST). Lagos, Nigeria: NIFST. See p. 61-
74. Held 25-29 Oct. 1987 at Port Harcourt, Nigeria. *
1222. Bradner, Norman. 1987. Soybeans for the food market.
Seed World (Des Plaines, Illinois). Oct. p. 44.
• Summary: Thailand imports nearly 100,000 tonnes/year
of soybeans for food use. Japan imports 65,000 to 70,000
tonnes of small beans to make natto. Natto beans can be
less than 5 mm in diameter and have a yellow cotyledon
and hilum. For tofu, soymilk and miso, importers want
high protein, low oil, maximum water soluble proteins, low
phytate, high 11S protein fraction, large seed size and high
sugar content. But a variety judged good one year can be
deemed unsuitable the next. Environmental conditions during
seed development play a signifi cant role in determining the
fi nal chemical composition. Address: Pulse Breeder, King
Agro, Inc., Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
1223. INTSOY Newsletter (Urbana, Illinois).1987.
Cooperative efforts in Nigeria aim to increase soybean use
across Africa. No. 37. Oct. p. 3-4.
• Summary: In Nigeria soybean production has more than
doubled in the past 5 years in response to the growing
demand and the shortage of foreign exchange needed to
import soybean meal. The 1987 crop is estimated to be at
least 125,000 tonnes, in part because of the current high
cash price. In Nigeria, much of the soybean production is
concentrated in the northern states of Benue and Kaduna.
The most widely consumed soyfood in the country is
soybean dawa-dawa, a fermented and dried product that is
sold as a wafer. Also known as iru in Yoruba-speaking areas,
it is traditionally made from the seed of the locust bean
tree. According to a 1984 survey by IITA, about 60% of the
dawa-dawa producers use soybeans and another 20% use a
combination of soya and locust beans. Dawa-dawa is used to
fl avor soups, stews, and sauces.
INTSOY is working with IITA on ways to expand
soybean use and processing throughout Africa. Another
method of using the dawa-dawa wafer is to pound the dry
wafer and add it to dishes as a powder. In the soybean
marketing center of Kafanchan in southern Kaduna, soybean
dawa-dawa is purchased by traders who sell it throughout
Nigeria and as far away as Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
IITA staff last year held utilization training sessions
that attracted more than 180 participants in Ondo state.
Other training sessions at 34 villages in Oyo state and at the
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HISTORY OF NATTO AND ITS RELATIVES 383
Kersey Children’s Home near Ogbomosho also drew strong
attendance. The children’s clinic at the Kersey Home started
using soymilk and soy-fortifi ed weaning foods to combat
the childhood malnutrition known as kwashiorkor. The
clinic now uses almost two tons of soybeans a month. By
1986, more than 3,000 farmers in Oyo State were growing
soybeans on small plots totaling 1,000 hectares.
Note: This is the earliest English-language document
seen (Jan. 2012) that contains the term “dawa-dawa”
(hyphenated) in connection with soybeans (one of two
documents); it is a close relative of natto.
Soy meal for the rapidly growing poultry industry is
now the most important commercial soy product. Some
companies, however, are moving into the production
of soymilk, high-protein soyfoods, and edible oil. Both
Food Specialties Limited and Smalltree Nigeria Limited
are increasing the use of soybeans in infant and breakfast
cereals. More than 30 businesses and individuals contacted
IITA for technical advice on opening or expanding soybean
processing operations. Extrusion cooking in particular has
recently had an increased impact in Nigeria. At least four
INSTA PRO extruders have allowed expanded production of
poultry feed and full-fat soy fl our for human consumption.
The new local processing capacity has been especially
important because of government restrictions on importing
soy products.
Expansion of soybean use in Nigeria will require the
introduction of new products, processes, and equipment
adaptable to African village-level operations.
1224. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. 1987.
Soybean buyers mission from Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Singapore, October 10-20, 1987. Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. 23 p. 30 cm.
Saddle stitched. [Eng]
• Summary: Contents: Mission members (with a photo
of each). Itinerary. Japanese market for edible soybeans.
General uses of edible soybeans in Hong Kong, Malaysia
and Singapore. List of major importers in Asia (by country).
Ontario soybean suppliers. Role of the Ontario Soya-Bean
Growers Marketing Board (Chatham, Ontario).
This conference, which took place in Toronto, Chatham,
and Harrow, Ontario, Canada, was sponsored by OMAF in
Toronto. On the mission were 6 buyers from Japan (Takeya
Miso Co., Asahi Industries [tofu maker], Takano Foods
Co. [natto maker], Dah Cong Hong, Wako Shokuryo Co.,
and Gomei Shoji Co. [the last 3 is each an importer and
wholesaler]), 2 from Hong Kong (Amoy Industries Ltd.,
and Chung Hing Co.), 3 from Malaysia (Sin Yong Huat
Enterprises Sdn. Ltd, Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Ltd., and
Chop Lee Kit Heng), and 2 buyers from Singapore (Eng
Huat (S) Ltd. and Chop Hin Leong). Mike Hojo of OMAF/
Tokyo was the mission leader.
The Japanese soybean market is about 5 million tons