History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in Africa (1857-2009)
William Shurtleff, Akiko AoyagiISBN: 978-1928914-25-9
Publication Date: 2009 Sept. 6
Number of References in Bibliography: 2336
Earliest Reference: 1857
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Brief Chronology of Soy in Africa
1858 March – Egypt. Soybeans are first cultivated in Egypt – and in Africa (Bulletin de la Societe d’Acclimatation 1858, March).
1873 – Tunisia. Soybeans are obtained from Tunisia by Haberlandt (1878). They may well have been cultivated in Tunisia by this time (Matagrin 1939).
1880 Nov. – Algeria. Soybeans are first cultivated in Algeria, a French colony until 1962 (Paillieux 1880) although they may have been cultivated there as early as about 1860 (Epremesnil (1860).
1903 Oct. – South Africa (Ruled by Britain). Soybeans are first cultivated (Burtt-Davy 1905).
1906 April – Zimbabwe (British colony; Southern Rhodesia from 1923 to 1970; Part of Rhodesia from 1970-1979). Soybeans are first cultivated (Rhodesian Agricultural Journal, 1906).
1907 – Tanzania (German East Africa until 1946). Soybeans are first cultivated.
1908 – Mauritius (Ile Maurice). Soybeans are first cultivated (Boname 1910).
1908 – Congo, Democratic Republic of (DRC, formerly Zaire, 1971-1991, and Belgian Congo, 1908-1960). Soybeans are first cultivated (Engelbeen 1948).
1908 – Great Britain. The traditional oilseeds linseed and cotton seed were in short supply, particularly in the city of Hull – a center of oilseed crushing. Soybeans began to be imported from Manchuria, initially by Mitsui, a Japanese conglomerate. Soybean supplies in Manchuria were abundant after the Sino-Japanese war – which Japan won.
This was the age of colonialism and the British Empire. Britain, which owned many colonies in Africa, decided to test, systematically, the ability of soybeans to produce good yields in British colonies. The leaders of the British effort were Sir Alfred Jones and Mr. Grenville Turner.
1909 Sept. – Gambia (British colony). Soybeans are first cultivated (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute) (London).
1909 – Ghana (British colony). Soybeans are first cultivated (Mercer-Quarshie 1975).
1909 – Kenya (British colony). Soybeans are first cultivated (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute) (London).
1909 – Tunisia. Soybeans are first cultivated (Itie 1910). See also 1873 above.
1910 – Malawi (British protectorate named Nyasaland from 1891 to 1964). Soybeans are first cultivated (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute) (London).
1910 – Nigeria (British colony). Soybeans are first cultivated. (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute) (London).
1910 – Sierra Leone (Allied with Britain; haven for freed British slaves since 1787). Soybeans are first cultivated (L’Economiste Francais 2009 Apr 9; Wall Street Journal 1910 Apr 16).
1910 March – Zambia (British colony; Northern Rhodesia until 1964). Soybeans are first cultivated (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute) (London).
1911 – Madagascar. Soybeans are first cultivated (Delmotte 1919).
1912 – Sudan (Part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan from 1899 to 1956). Soybeans are first cultivated (Kaltenbach 1936, Aug).
1913 – Uganda. Soybeans are first cultivated (Rubaihayo 1969).
1914 Aug. – Cameroon. Soybeans are first cultivated (Grimme 1920).
1915 – Mozambique (Portuguese East Africa until 1975). Soybeans are first cultivated (Oil and Colour Trades Journal) (London). They were next cultivated in 1938 (Daenhardt 1973).
1921 – Congo Republic (French). Soybeans are first cultivated (Bulletin de la Societe d’Acclimation 1921).
1921 approx. – Morocco. Soybeans are first cultivated (Kaltenbach 1936, Aug.)
1923 – Mali. Soybeans are first cultivated (Vuillet 1924).
1927 – Burudi (Part of Ruanda-Urundi until 1962). Soybeans are first cultivated (Lejune 1938).
1927 – Rwanda (Part of Ruanda-Urundi until 1962). Soybeans are first cultivated (Lejune 1938).
1927 Oct. – Libya. Soybeans are first cultivated (Vivenza 1928).
1927 – Somalia. Soybeans are first cultivated (Vivenza 1928).
1928 – Angola (Colony of Portugal). Soybeans are first cultivated (Abreu Velho 1938).
1932 – Swaziland. Soybeans are first cultivated (Lochrie 1934).
1935 – Guinea (French Guinea until 1958). Soybeans are first cultivated (Porteres 1946, Nov.).
1936 – Lesotho (Basutoland until 1966). Soybeans are first cultivated (Sampson 1936).
1936 – Réunion (Reunion). Soybeans are first cultivated (International Institute of Agriculture 1936).
1936 – Seychelles. Soybeans are first cultivated (Sampson 1936).
1938 – South Africa. ProNutro, the earliest known commercial soyfood product in Africa, is introduced by Hind Brothers & Co. Ltd. (Odendaal 1965).
1939 – Benin (Dahomey before 1975). Soybeans are first cultivated (Matagrin 1939).
1939 – Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Soybeans are first cultivated (Matagrin 1939).
1939 – Togo (Togoland until 1914). Soybeans are first cultivated (Matagrin 1939).
1942 – Burkina Faso (Upper Volta until 1984). Soybeans are first cultivated (Chevalier 1948).
1945 – Ethiopia. Soyfoods first appear in Ethiopia (Madison Survey 1945). Soybeans have not yet been reported.
1950 – Ethiopia. Soybeans are first cultivated (Mengistu 1981).
1952 – Central African Republic. Soybeans are first cultivated (Hardy 1954).
1952 – Gabon. Soybeans are first cultivated by Dr. Albert Schweitzer (Hauser 1952).
1960 – Cape Verde, Eritrea, and Liberia. Soyfoods (Meals for Millions) first appear in these countries. Soybeans have not yet been reported.
1961 – Africa. Total soybean production in Africa is estimated at 7,183 tonnes, according to FAO – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
1963 – Senegal. Soybeans are first cultivated (IRAT-CNRA 1964).
1964 – Liberia. Soybeans are first cultivated (Kromah 1975).
1965 – Uganda. Africa Basic Foods, black Africa's first soyfoods company, is started in Uganda by Dr. D.W. Harrison, a black American and Seventh-day Adventist medical missionary.
1966 – Nigeria. Soy-ogi, a traditional fermented, cassava-based food, now fortified with soy, developed by Akinrele in Nigeria.
1971 – Comoro Islands / Comoros. Soybeans are first cultivated (IRAT-Comores 1972).
1973 – Mauritania. Soyfoods (USDA Food for Peace program) are first introduced. Soybeans have not yet been reported (USDA 1974).
1974 – Niger. Soybeans are first cultivated (Larcher 1988).
1975 – Chad. Soybeans are first cultivated (Akintayo 1995).
1976 – Botswana (Bechualand until 1966). Soybeans are first cultivated as part of INTSOY trials (Judy & Whigham 1978).
1978 – Djibouti. Soyfoods (USDA Food for Peace program) are first introduced. Soybeans have not yet been reported (USDA 1978).
1981 May – Guinea Bissau (Portuguese Guinea until 1974). Soybeans are first cultivated as part of INTSOY trials (Jackobs, Smyth and Arickson 1984)
1990 March – Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni and Fernando Po). Soybeans are first cultivated (Lequeau 1991).
1990 – Sao Tome & Principe. Soybeans are first cultivated (Lassouarn 1991).
2007 – Africa. Total soybean production in Africa is estimated at 1,253,879 tonnes, according to FAO. This is a remarkable 175-fold increase over 1961.
The leading soybean producers in 2007 (all with strong historical ties to Great Britain) are:
Nigeria 604,000 tonnes.
South Africa 205,000 tonnes.
Uganda 176,000 tonnes.
Zimbabwe 112,300 tonnes.
Egypt 52,500 tonnes.
Note: Soyinfo Center has been unable to find any record of soybean cultivation in the following African countries: Cape Verde, Djibouti, Eritrea, Mauritania, and Namibia. We would welcome any information to the contrary.
This book is about:
History of Soybeans in Africa
History of Soybeans in Algeria
History of Soybeans in Angola
History of Soybeans in Benin
History of Soybeans in Botswana
History of Soybeans in Burkina Faso
History of Soybeans in Burundi
History of Soybeans in Cameroon
History of Soybeans in Cape Verde
History of Soybeans in Central African Republic
History of Soybeans in Chad
History of Soybeans in Comoro Islands
History of Soybeans in Comoros
History of Soybeans in Congo Republic
History of Soybeans in Congo, Democratic Republic of (DRC)
History of Soybeans in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
History of Soybeans in Cote d’Ivoire
History of Soybeans in Ivory Coast
History of Soybeans in Djibouti
History of Soybeans in Egypt
History of Soybeans in Equatorial Guinea
History of Soybeans in Eritrea
History of Soybeans in Ethiopia
History of Soybeans in Gabon
History of Soybeans in Gambia
History of Soybeans in Ghana
History of Soybeans in Guinea-Bissau
History of Soybeans in Guinea
History of Soybeans in Kenya
History of Soybeans in Lesotho
History of Soybeans in Liberia
History of Soybeans in Libya
History of Soybeans in Madagascar
History of Soybeans in Malawi
History of Soybeans in Mali
History of Soybeans in Mauritania
History of Soybeans in Mauritius
History of Soybeans in Morocco
History of Soybeans in Mozambique
History of Soybeans in Namibia
History of Soybeans in Nigeria
History of Soybeans in Niger
History of Soybeans in Reunion
History of Soybeans in Rhodesia
History of Soybeans in Rwanda
History of Soybeans in Senegal
History of Soybeans in Seychelles
History of Soybeans in Sierra Leone
History of Soybeans in Somalia
History of Soybeans in South Africa
History of Soybeans in Sao Tome and Principe
History of Soybeans in Sudan
History of Soybeans in Swaziland
History of Soybeans in Tanzania
History of Soybeans in Togo
History of Soybeans in Tunisia
History of Soybeans in Uganda
History of Soybeans in Zaire
History of Soybeans in Zambia
History of Soybeans in Zimbabwe
History of Soy in Africa
History of Soy in Algeria
History of Soy in Angola
History of Soy in Benin
History of Soy in Botswana
History of Soy in Burkina Faso
History of Soy in Burundi
History of Soy in Cameroon
History of Soy in Cape Verde
History of Soy in Central African Republic
History of Soy in Chad
History of Soy in Comoro Islands
History of Soy in Comoros
History of Soy in Congo Republic
History of Soy in Congo, Democratic Republic of (DRC)
History of Soy in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
History of Soy in Cote d’Ivoire
History of Soy in Ivory Coast
History of Soy in Djibouti
History of Soy in Egypt
History of Soy in Equatorial Guinea
History of Soy in Eritrea
History of Soy in Ethiopia
History of Soy in Gabon
History of Soy in Gambia
History of Soy in Ghana
History of Soy in Guinea-Bissau
History of Soy in Guinea
History of Soy in Kenya
History of Soy in Lesotho
History of Soy in Liberia
History of Soy in Libya
History of Soy in Madagascar
History of Soy in Malawi
History of Soy in Mali
History of Soy in Mauritania
History of Soy in Mauritius
History of Soy in Morocco
History of Soy in Mozambique
History of Soy in Namibia
History of Soy in Nigeria
History of Soy in Niger
History of Soy in Reunion
History of Soy in Rhodesia
History of Soy in Rwanda
History of Soy in Senegal
History of Soy in Seychelles
History of Soy in Sierra Leone
History of Soy in Somalia
History of Soy in South Africa
History of Soy in Sao Tome and Principe
History of Soy in Sudan
History of Soy in Swaziland
History of Soy in Tanzania
History of Soy in Togo
History of Soy in Tunisia
History of Soy in Uganda
History of Soy in Zaire
History of Soy in Zambia
History of Soy in Zimbabwe