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

soy products traded. This is just over half a million dollars
per day. Our largest single area of exports is whole soybeans
for human foods. The percentage of these beans going to
the major markets in 1988 were: USA, 37%; Pacifi c Rim
Countries, 34%; and Europe and other 29%. Our greatest
imbalance in exports and imports is in soybean meal or oil
cake. Canadian crushers are unable to maximize their sales
of oil cake because of diffi culties in selling surplus soybean
oil in the US. Soy oil being sold into the US presently faces
a tariff of 18% which is decreasing at the rate of 2.25% per
year as per the Canada United States Trade Agreement...
“Institutional development: We suggest the Board
initiate the establishment of a Soyfood Development
Association similar in structure and function to the Canola
Council of Canada... There is a need to begin to bring all
industry stakeholders together to systematically identify
problems, information and research needs; develop data
bases; and cooperatively promote the soyfood industry.”
Soybeans for food purposes: The total volume of
soybeans consumed as soyfoods in Vancouver (BC), Toronto
(Ontario), and Montreal (Quebec) was estimated at about
6,000 tonnes, and imports were estimated to be equivalent to
8,000 tonnes of soyfoods.
Miso: One large Vancouver producer and one Toronto
producer estimated that the volume of soybeans used to
make miso in Canada is only about 35 tonnes/year.
Modern Soy Protein Products: Soy fl our, concentrates,
isolates, and textured soy protein products. Roughly 2,400
tonnes of soybeans are used in Canada for the production
of these products, and 5,600 tonnes of soybeans are used
to make the imported products (only bakery fl our and
extruded fl our are made in Canada). Almost 1,000 tonnes of
soy protein concentrates and isolates, and 400 texture soy
proteins were imported, 83% from the USA. Total exports
were 800 tonnes, of which 578 tonnes went to the USA.
Soy fl our (full-fat): The term “fl our” generally signifi es that
the material has been ground fi nely enough to pass through
a 100-mesh screen. Only relatively small volumes of fullfat
soy fl ours are used directly as human foods. Some are
used in bread, crackers, and pastry products. 5 companies in
Canada make 1,538 tonnes of soy fl our worth $495,000.
Natto: Canadians sell roughly 8 to 10 thousand tonnes of
natto beans in Japan each year. Natto-type beans are “created
by screening out the small beans from among regular food
grade soybeans which have white hilums” (p. 15). In Japan
about 100,000 tons/year of soybeans are used to make natto.
Recently, Canada (via 3 companies–First Line Seeds, W.G.
Thompson, and King Grain) has supplied about 10% of this
market. Ontario produces about 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of
natto beans. Competition is expected to increase from U.S.
seed breeders.
Soymilk: There are presently no large Canadian soymilk
manufacturers. A plant is being built by an international
trading company near Vancouver (YHS Pacifi c Fruit
© Copyright Soyinfo Center 2012
HISTORY OF NATTO AND ITS RELATIVES 414
Concentrates Ltd., owned by Yeo Hiap Seng). It will
supply both the local market and the Western U.S. market
when it goes on stream later this year. A high proportion of
imported soymilk is organic. Two brands account for 3/4 of
all imports: Edensoy and Vitasoy. A high proportion of all
soymilk imports are certifi ed organic. This emphasis makes
it diffi cult for Canadian producers to compete because of
the shortage of organic soybeans in Canada. Consumption
of soymilk is increasing at about 10% a year. Prices range
from $1.50 to $2.75 per liter, with the organic product
commanding the higher prices. Just under 100 tonnes of
soybeans are used to produce soymilk in Canada: Vancouver
42 tonnes, Toronto 30 tonnes, Montreal 25 tonnes, plus
imports 240 tonnes. 1 kg of soybeans produces 16.5 kg of
soymilk.
Soynuts: The volume of soynuts made in Canada is
quite small. One Toronto company [Grove Country Foods
Canada, Inc.; they were in business 1-2 years, but were out
of business by Jan. 1991], which began operation in Nov.
1988, sells a line of roasted nuts, which are roasted in the
USA and chocolate-dipped in Ontario. Production was only a
few tonnes in 1989 and is estimated to be about 10 tonnes in
1990.
Soy sauce: In 1986, according to Statistics Canada data,
2,503 tonnes of soy sauce were produced by 6 fi rms. The
value was $2,161 per tonne for a total of $5,411,000. In
1988 Canada imported 5,680 tonnes of soy sauce valued at
$4 million, primarily from China, the United States, Hong
Kong, and Japan. Exports were 58 tonnes valued at $65,000.
The major Canadian producers are China Lily and Sun Fresh
in Toronto, Wong Wing and VH in Montreal, and Golden
Dragon in Vancouver. The value of Toronto production is
currently estimated to be about $5 million.
Soy sprouts: One Toronto manufacturer uses 20-25
tonnes of soybeans per year.
Tofu: About 3,300 tonnes of soybeans are used to
produce tofu in Canada, more than any other soyfood.
The volume of soybeans used is estimated at 1,400 tonnes
in Toronto, 1,200 tonnes in Quebec (when a relatively
large operation in Hull [La Soyarie, Inc.], near Ottawa,
which exports to Ontario is included), 625-700 tonnes
in Vancouver, and 125 tonnes for imported tofu. 1 kg of
soybeans produces 2.4 kg of tofu.
Tempeh: Only about 33 tonnes of soybeans are used
to make tempeh in Canada, and an estimated 15-20 tonnes
in Ontario. Imports are relatively small. 1 kg of soybeans
produces 1.6 kg of tempeh. Very few fi rms produce tempeh
in Canada. One producer claims to have over half the Ontario
market. A major distributor suggested they sold 4-5 times as
much tofu as tempeh.
Soybean crushing: Since 1986 the number of fi rms
crushing soybeans and producing soy oil has decreased from
3 to 2 [Central Soya owns two plants; in 1990 they bought
the Canadian Vegetable Oil Processing (CVOP) plant in