The History of the SOYBEAN The Ancient Soybeans in Soybean the New World It is not known with certainty Soybeans were first brought when cultivation of the soybean to America in the early 19th began, but it is believed that century as ballasts in trading it was a staple of the Chinese ships returning from the East. diet centuries before the Interest in developing these pyramids were built. In fact, the exotic beans from Asia as a story of how the wild soybean food source happened slowly. – a climbing, vine-like plant In 1804 the first mention of that produces small black From the East soybean cultivation in the seeds – was first discovered to Europe New World appeared when by a caravan of traveling James Mease published Despite its remarkable merchants is one of China’s literature promoting the properties, the soybean oldest legends. The first written soybean as an adaptable crop remained a crop exclusive to record of soybean cultivation for Pennsylvania. There is no the East for many centuries. appeared in 2838 BC in the record of how Mease’s first First introduced to Europe in “Materia Medica” by Chinese Pennsylvania crop fared. In 1712 by Engelbert Kaempfer, Emperor Sheng-Nung. From 1829 a brown-seeded soybean a German botanist who had China, soybean cultivation variety was shown in the studied in Japan, the soybean spread to Japan, Korea and Botany Garden at Cambridge, was regarded as a botanical throughout Southeast Asia. Massachusetts, but it would curiosity. Later Swedish Medical records from at least still take about 50 years before botanist Cal von Linne, 1500 BC from China, Egypt any real interest in the soybean originator of the binomial and Mesopotamia also mention as an agricultural crop began. system of rooting plants, would the soybean. In ancient In 1879 soybean crops were make a scientific study of the times, moldy and fermented harvested at two agricultural soybean. He applied the Greek substances from soybean experiment stations in New work glycine, meaning “sweet” curd were commonly used as Jersey from seeds obtained to all the groundnut species primitive antibiotics to treat from Europe. By 1889 several of legumes. Because of the wounds and reduce swelling. more agricultural experiment large nodules on the soybean stations in the United States plant, he called it Glycine were working with soybeans, Max, the name generally using seed varieties brought accepted today. Despite von from Japan. The soybean Linne’s research, and extensive and the fertile soil and hot, experimental work by Austrian humid summer weather of the botanist Frederick Haberlandt American heartland proved the in 1875, poor climate and soil perfect match. By the turn of conditions limited attempts the century, many American to produce soybeans as a farmers were growing the crop commercial crop in Europe. for livestock feed. Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board Illinois Soybean Association • 1605 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, Illinois 61704 (309) 663-7692 telephone • (309) 663-6981 fax • www.ilsoy.org Soybeans in the 20th Century By 1889 the United States Department of Agriculture began introducing new William Morse, George varieties of soybeans from Soybean Washington Asia, and research into the soybean’s potential began Pioneer Carver in earnest. By 1907 there William Morse, director of In 1896 a significant would be 23 varieties of the forage crop investigations at breakthrough for the plant in the United States, Arlington Experimental Farm soybean in America occurred including 15 introductions in Virginia, led the USDA’s when noted botanist and based on USDA research. efforts to gain acceptance of chemist George Washington the soybean as a potentially Carver became head of the major agriculture crop in department of agriculture America. Morse worked at the Tuskegee Institute diligently to combat the in Alabama. Carver’s prevalent skepticism about research into new crops the little bean’s usefulness. for the depleted soil of He wrote articles about the South led to extensive 23 soybeans, talked with experimentation with varities of farmers and scientists, and soybeans and other nitrogen- continued to research the producing legumes. To find soybean many Asian varieties. new uses for these crops, he developed more than 300 plants by-products, including oils and food substitutes. It was Carver’s research that led to the development of what would become the two main uses of soybeans on the American continent – edible oil and meal. Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board Illinois Soybean Association • 1605 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, Illinois 61704 (309) 663-7692 telephone • (309) 663-6981 fax • www.ilsoy.org WW The American TWO Soybean Association World War II In 1919 William Morse helped The 1940’s were a major form the American Soybean turning point in the American Association, becoming its first history of the soybean. president. For twelve years he Thanks to the tireless efforts helped direct new and more of pioneers like William forceful efforts in soybean Morse, American farmers and research and experimentation. soybean processors were He published more than 40 ready to fill in the gap when official government bulletins, A Breakthrough revolution in China and World made hundreds of speeches, in Harvesting War II disrupted soybean and inspired many researchers, In 1920 combines were first production and put traditional plant scientists and used to harvest soybeans, sources of protein and edible industrialists to new efforts. making soybeans as easy to oils in short supply. As the Later Morse spent more than harvest as they were to grown. U.S. soybean producers and two years in China gathering In 1922 the first U.S. soybean processors geared up to meet more than 2,000 soybean processing plant opened. As the demands of war, new varieties for U.S. researchers a result of the forward march technological breakthroughs to study. Eventually his efforts of soybean technology and were made and rapid paid off. research, the U.S. grew 9 expansion followed – paving million bushels of soybeans in the way for America’s post- 1929. By 1939 the crop had war leadership in soybean increased more than ten times production and research. to 91 million bushels. Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board Illinois Soybean Association • 1605 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, Illinois 61704 (309) 663-7692 telephone • (309) 663-6981 fax • www.ilsoy.org Post War 2000 and Beyond Expansion For profitability and long-term In the early 1950’s, soybean economic and environmental meal became available as a sustainability, focus turned low-cost, high protein feed toward production, product ingredient, triggering an quality and value. In 2014, a explosion in the U.S. livestock record yield of 104 bushels and poultry production and per acre was reported on an assuring a vast and continuing Illinois farm. Addressing specific market for the soybean target areas positions the U.S. farmer’s output. In 1956, farmers as leaders in the global efforts began to expand marketplace. Today, the ancient export markets by promoting grains first cultivated in Asia American soybeans and flourishes in thousands of farms soybean products in Japan and throughout America’s heartland around the world. International – producing an amazing diversity marketing offices were of products that contribute established around the world. to the well-being of people Attention was turned toward throughout the world. emerging, non-food markets. Research and development lead to the production of soy based biodiesel, ink, candles, building materials and crayons. Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board Illinois Soybean Association • 1605 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, Illinois 61704 (309) 663-7692 telephone • (309) 663-6981 fax • www.ilsoy.org.