A Giant Sized History Of Agriculture

Welcome to this complete agricultural history! Included are important dates, discoveries, and innovations around wheat, corn, soybeans, cannabis, hemp, barley, rice, lentils, peas, chickpeas, potatoes, flax, bitter vetch, squash, gourds, and agricultural technologies.

26,900 BCE

Use of hemp cord in Czechoslovakia (oldest known object to be associated with cannabis)

17,000 BCE

Grains of wild emmer wheat discovered at Ohalo II had a radiocarbon dating of 17,000 BCE

10,200-9,500 BCE

Definitive evidence for the full domestication of emmer wheat is not found until the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, at sites such as Beidha, Tell Ghoraifé, Jericho, Abu Hureyra, Tell Halula, Tell Aswad and Cafer Höyük

10,000 BCE

Grains of wild emmer discovered at the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) site of Netiv Hagdud are 10,000-9,400 years old
The ancestors of modern wheat are introduced: Triticum urartu (wild einkorn), Aegilops speltoides, and Aegilops tauschi
Corn was first domesticated by native peoples in Mexico about 10,000 years ago
Squash was domesticated in Mexico around 10,000 years ago, making it one of the first crops domesticated in the Americas
Bottle gourds (Lagenaria siceraria) were being used as containers in the Americas

9,600 BCE

Archaeological records suggests that wheat was first cultivated in the regions of the Fertile Crescent around 9,600 BCE

9,000 BCE

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) was one of the first domesticated grains in the Fertile Crescent
Flax (Linum usitatissimum) cultivation began in the Fertile Crescent region

8,700 BCE

Stone milling tools with corn residue on them were discovered at the Xihuatoxtla shelter, dated 8,700 years ago

8,650 BCE

The earliest clear evidence of the domestication of Einkorn wheat dates from 8,650 BCE to 7,950 BCE from Çayönü and Cafer Höyük, two Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B archaeological sites in southern Turkey

8,600 BCE

Remains of harvested emmer from several sites near the Karacadag Range have been dated to between 8,600 BCE (at Cayonu) and 8,400 BCE (Abu Hureyra)

8,500 BCE

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) was domesticated in the Near East, one of the first grain legumes to be domesticated

8,000+ BCE

Use of hemp cord in pottery in the area of modern day Taiwan
Rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation began in China along the Yangtze River
Lentils (Lens culinaris) were domesticated in the Near East
Peas (Pisum sativum) were domesticated in the Near East and Mediterranean region

7,800-7,500 BCE

The earliest carbon-14 date for einkorn wheat remains at Abu Hureyra

7,500 BCE

People first began to farm corn (instead of picking it wild) around 7,500 BCE in Mexico
Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) were domesticated in southeastern Turkey

7,000 BCE

Scientists believe people living in central Mexico developed corn at least 7,000 years ago
A primitive corn was being grown in southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America 7,000 years ago
Small quantities of emmer are present during Period 1 at Mehrgharh on the Indian subcontinent, showing that emmer was already cultivated there by 7000-5000 BC

6,700 BCE

In the stone age, man ground grains of wheat with rocks to make flour

6,500 BCE

The cultivation of emmer wheat reached Greece, Cyprus, and India by 6,500 BCE

6,400-6,200 BCE

The oldest evidence for hexaploid wheat has been confirmed through DNA analysis of wheat seeds, dating to around 6,400-6,200 BCE, recovered from Çatalhöyük

6,250 BCE

Archaeological remains of early corn ears, found at Guila Naquitz Cave in the Oaxaca Valley, date back roughly 6,250 years

6,100 BCE

Bread wheat is an allohexaploid (an allopolyploid with six sets of chromosomes: two sets from each of three different species). Of the six sets of chromosomes, two come from Triticum urartu (einkorn wheat) and two from Aegilops speltoides. This hybridisation created the species Triticum turgidum (durum wheat) 5800–8200 years ago

6,000 BCE

The cultivation of emmer wheat reached Egypt shortly after 6,000 BCE
Ecuador was growing corn by this time
Cannabis seeds and oil used for food in China

5,600 BCE

A large corpus of data indicates that corn was dispersed into lower Central America by 5,600 BCE

5,500 BCE

Millstones used for grinding flour were introduced

5,300 BCE

Remnants of Einkorn have been found with the iceman mummy Ötzi, dated 5,300 years ago

5,000 BCE

The cultivation of emmer wheat reached Germany and Spain by 5,000 BCE
Spelt (Triticum spelta), also known as dinkel wheat, or hulled wheat, was cultivated around 5,000 BCE
The earliest archaeological evidence of spelt is from the fifth millennium BCE in Transcaucasia, north-east of the Black Sea

5,000-4,000 BCE

Corn moved into the inter-Andean valleys of Colombia between 5,000-4,000 BCE

5,000-3,500 BCE

Between 5,000 and 3,500 BCE, Mesoamericans were already planting mutant forms of corn that showed signs of the husks characteristic of modern domestic corn

4,500 BCE

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) domestication began in the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia

4,000 BCE

Textiles made of hemp used in China and Turkestan
Cannabis was farmed as a major food crop in China
Barley cultivation spread to Europe

3,500 BCE

A much improved race of corn appeared

3,450 BCE

Ears of corn from caves near Tehuacan, Puebla, date ca. 3,450 BCE

3,400 BCE

In northeastern Europe, emmer (in addition to einkorn and barley) was one of the most important cereal species; this importance increased from 3,400 BCE onwards

3,000 BCE

The Egyptians were the first to produce risen loaves using yeast
By 3,000 BCE, wheat had reached the British Isles and Scandinavia
In the Near East, in southern Mesopotamia in particular, cultivation of emmer wheat began to decline in the Early Bronze Age, from about 3000 BC
Cannabis was an important crop in Korea
Rice cultivation reached India from China

2,853 BCE

Emperor Sheng-Nung of China named five sacred plants: soybeans, rice, wheat, barley, and millet

2,737 BCE

First recorded use of cannabis as medicine by Emperor Shen Neng of China

2,700 BCE

Ancient Chinese writings from 2,700 BCE describe growing wheat

2,500 BCE

It’s believed that beginning about 2500 BCE, corn spread through much of the Americas
Remains of spelt have been found in some later Neolithic sites (2500–1700 BC) in Central Europe
Rice cultivation spread to Southeast Asia

2,300-4,300 BCE

The last two sets of chromosomes that make up bread wheat came from wild goat-grass Aegilops tauschii 2300–4300 years ago

2,100 BCE

Northern Flint corn descends from the flint corn introduced into the southwestern United States 4,100 years ago

2,000 BCE

Bhang (dried cannabis leaves, seeds and stems) was mentioned in the Hindu sacred text Atharvaveda
The ancient Egyptians used cannabis in suppositories for relieving the pain of hemorrhoids
Ah Mun was the Mayan God of Corn

1,900 BCE

In the British Isles, wheat straw (thatch) was used for roofing in the Bronze Age (2,000 BCE – 500 BCE)

1,700 BCE

Egyptian papyrus that mentioned medical cannabis: the Ramesseum III Papyrus

1,600 BCE

Soybean plants were domesticated between 17th and 11th century BC in the eastern half of China where they were cultivated into a food crop

1,500 BCE

Scythians cultivated cannabis and used it to weave fine hemp cloth
Scientists in Egypt developed a new kind of wheat
By 1,500 BCE, people were growing wheat in China
Sedentary village farming in Mesoamerica came into being by about 1,500 BCE
Indigenous Americans were taught to soak corn in alkali-water, made with ashes and lime (calcium oxide), since at least 1,200 to 1,500 BCE by Mesoamericans
Potatoes reached the Peruvian coast from the highlands

1,500-1,200 BCE

The people of the Ocós phase of the Pacific coasts of Chiapas and Guatemala raised a small-eared corn

1,350 BCE

The first identifiable bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) with sufficient gluten for yeasted breads has been identified using DNA analysis in samples from a granary dating to approximately 1,350 BCE at Assiros in Macedonia

1,345-1,521

Centeotl was the Aztec deity of corn

1,340 BCE

“three-ply hemp cord” in the ruins of El Amarna, the city of the Pharaoh Akhenaton

1,300 BCE

The Berlin Papyrus and The Chester Beatty Medical Papyrus VI mention medical cannabis

1,213 BCE

Ramesses II, the Egyptian pharaoh, mummified on his death. Cannabis pollen was later recovered from the mummy

1,200-1,500 BCE

Indigenous Americans were taught to soak corn in alkali-water, made with ashes and lime (calcium oxide), since at least 1,200 to 1,500 BCE by Mesoamericans

1,100 BCE

The earliest known name for the soybean was shu, a term used in north China as early as the 11th century BCE

1,100-900 BCE

The people of the Cuadros phase of the Pacific coasts of Chiapas and Guatemala raised a small-eared corn

1,000 BCE

Developments in milling techniques began with the invention of the rotary mill
In India, the medical and religious use of cannabis began
When Iroquois people began to grow corn in the north-east part of North America, about 1000 CE
Rice became established as a major crop in Japan

900 BCE

Assyrians employed the psychotropic effects of cannabis for recreational and medical purposes

750 BCE

In the Iron Age (750–15 BC), spelt became a principal wheat species in southern Germany and Switzerland

700 BCE

Scythian tribes left Cannabis seeds as offerings in royal tombs

664 BCE

In the Kuan-tzu, an expedition is known to have taken place in 664 BCE – soybeans brought back from Mountain Jung

663 BCE

The Ku-liang commentaries on the Ch’un-ch’iu contain an entry for the year 663 BC – soybeans sent as gift between lords

650 BCE

The Zoroastrian Zendavesta, an ancient Persian religious text, referred to bhang as the “good narcotic”

600 BCE

Hemp rope appeared in southern Russia
Bitter vetch fell out of favor as other legumes became more popular

535 CE

The oldest reference to wheat gluten appears in the Qimin Yaoshu
The Ch’i-min yao-shu was written containing chapter on soybean cultivation

500 BCE

Spelt wheat was in common use in southern Britain
Cannabis was commonly used by 500 BCE in Asia as herbal medicine
Gautama Buddha said to have survived by eating hempseed

480 BCE

The classical Greek historian Herodotus reported that the inhabitants of Scythia would inhale vapors of hemp-seed smoke

470 BCE

The philosopher Socrates said, “No man qualifies as a statesman who is entirely ignorant on the problems of wheat”

300 BCE

Physician Dioscorides prescribed cannabis for toothaches and earaches
The earliest known mention of soybeans in Korean literature
Rice reached the Mediterranean region via Alexander the Great’s expeditions

200 BCE

The Romans started to use animal power to grind wheat
Hemp rope appeared in Greece
The Chinese Book of Rites mentioned hemp fabric
200 BC – roughly AD 220: The full season crop soybeans of northern Japan came from north China via Korea

170 BCE

Tofu-making was first recorded during the Chinese Han dynasty

168 BCE

The Roman Baker’s Guild, or Pistorum, was created

150 BCE

The full season crop soybeans of northern Japan came from north China via Korea between 200 BCE and CE 220

130 BCE

The term dadou (ta-tou; literally “great bean”) came to be the standard Mandarin term for the soybean

100 BCE

The Fan Sheng-chih Shu of the first century BCE contained the first detailed information about soybean planting
First evidence of hemp paper, invented in China

87 BCE

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was buried with textiles and paper made from cannabis

50 CE

Pliny the Elder noted that emmer was called “far” in his time

70 CE

Roman medical texts listed cannabis as a cure for earache
Dioscorides listed medical marijuana in his Pharmacopoeia

79 CE

Pliny the Elder’s The Natural History mentioned hemp rope
A baker put his loaf of bread into the oven in AD 79

80 CE

Plutarch mentioned Thracians using cannabis as an intoxicant

100 CE

Imported hemp rope appeared in England
Rice cultivation reached West Africa via Arab traders

150 CE

Greek physician Galen prescribed medical marijuana

200 CE

Hua T’o used a compound of cannabis to anesthetize patients
Flint corn was the predominant type of corn grown in the Eastern United States

207 CE

First pharmacopoeia of the East listed medical marijuana

290 CE

The Kuang Chih mentions various varieties of soybeans

300 CE

The earliest known mention of soybeans in Korean literature
Potatoes cultivated throughout the Andes region

550 CE

The Jewish Talmud mentioned the euphoriant properties of Cannabis

570 CE

The French queen Arnegunde was buried with hemp cloth

683 CE

The first mention of soyfoods (soy sauce and miso) in Korean literature

712 CE

The earliest Japanese reference to the soybean is in the classic Kojiki

730 CE

The Todaiji Shosoin Monjo was written in Japan – taxes paid in miso

750-15 BC

Spelt became a principal wheat species in southern Germany and Switzerland

800 CE

Hashish was widely used throughout the Middle East and parts of Asia after about 800 CE
Corn became a staple crop in the Eastern United States from 800 CE to 900 CE
Rice reached East Africa via Islamic traders

840 CE

Soybeans and azuki beans were used as an emergency food in Japan

850 CE

Vikings took hemp rope and seeds to Iceland

867 CE

The Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku reported that Japanese farmers burnt a holly mountain to grow soybeans

900 CE

Arabs learned techniques for making hemp paper

960-1279

Wheat gluten was known as mian jin by the Song dynasty of China

1000 CE

Arabic physician Ibn Wahshiyah’s On Poisons warned of marijuana’s potential dangers
The English word ‘Hempe’ first listed in a dictionary
Hemp ropes appeared on Italian ships
When Iroquois people began to grow corn in the north-east part of North America

1025

Medieval Persian medical writer published “Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine”

11th Century

The earliest known reference to the Chinese term for “soy oil”
The earliest known reference appears in the Wu-lei hsiang-kan chih

1100

Hashish smoking became very popular throughout the Middle East

1150

Muslims introduced the manufacture of paper from cannabis in Spain and Italy

1155

Persian legend of the Sufi master Sheik Haydar’s personal discovery of cannabis

1230

Cannabis was introduced to Iraq

1250

Cannabis was introduced to Egypt by mystic devotees from Syria

1295

Journeys of Marco Polo gave second-hand reports of cannabis use

1300

Arab traders brought cannabis to the Mozambique coast of Africa

1378

Ottoman Emir Soudoun Scheikhouni issued one of the first edicts against eating hashish

1400s

The Chinese term for the soy presscake first appeared

1484

Pope Innocent VIII singled out cannabis as an unholy sacrament

1492

Columbus “discovered” corn in America
European explorers encountered potatoes in the New World

1494

Hemp paper making started in England

1500

The English settlers of North America made corn into bread
Introduced into Africa by the Portuguese in the 16th century – corn
Rice introduced to the Americas by Spanish colonizers

1533

King Henry VIII fined farmers if they did not raise hemp

1537

Potatoes first brought to Europe from Peru

1545

The Spaniards brought industrial hemp to the Western Hemisphere

1549

Angolan slaves brought cannabis to sugar plantations of Brazil

1554

Spanish brought cannabis cultivation to Peru

1563

Queen Elizabeth I decreed landowners with 60 acres must grow cannabis

1564

King Philip of Spain ordered cannabis grown throughout his Empire

1565

North America has no indigenous soybeans – may have arrived as early as 1565
Potatoes introduced to Spain from the Americas

1570s

Potatoes introduced to England by Sir Francis Drake

1578

The earliest known reference to soy oil as a food appears in the Pen-ts’ao kang-mu

1597

The first description of soyfoods by a European – Francesco Carletti described miso

1600

England began to import hemp from Russia
Corn was introduced to Africa by the Portuguese

1606

Cannabis cultivated for hemp at colony in Port Royal

1607

“hempe” was among the crops Gabriel Archer observed at Powhatan village

1613

The Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies required farmers to grow hemp
The English Captain John Saris described tofu in Japan

1616

Jamestown settlers began growing hemp plant

1621

Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy suggested cannabis may treat depression
Potatoes reached North America with colonists

1632

Pilgrims brought cannabis to New England

1650

Use of hashish, alcohol, and opium spread in occupied Constantinople
Potatoes became established crop in Ireland

1653

The earliest European written description of the soybean plant by George Eberhard Rumpf

1660

Wheat type Red Lammas is introduced
The first attested use of grünkern in southern Germany

1665

The Italian Friar Domingo Navarrete described tofu in China and Manila

1668

Early shipping records show twelve kegs of shoyu were shipped from Japan

1670

Dutch traders started to import soy sauce from Japan to France

1679

John Locke made the earliest known mention of a term closely related to “soy”

1687

Chile’s first wheat cycle began

1688

The Englishman Dampier described soy sauce in Japan

1690-1692

Englebert Kaempfer lived in Japan

1696

J. Ovington stated “Souy is the choicest of all Sawces”

1699

Dampier first spelled the word as “soy”

1700s

Soy sauce became the first truly popular soy food in Europe
Rice cultivation expanded in the American colonies

1701

Jethro Tull devised a simple seed drill

1705

The first reference to southern dent corn
The Englishman Dale first used the term “soia”

1707-1778

Carl Linnaeus recognized five species of wheat

1712

Englebert Kaempfer published Amoenitatum Exoticarum – first European description of soybean plant

1719

Potatoes first cultivated in North America (New Hampshire)

1726

The first mention of the soybean in Sri Lanka

1737

The first European record of soybean cultivation
Soybeans are known to have been grown in the Netherlands

1739

Soybeans were probably first received in France

1747

Mrs. Glasse’s Cookery advised to “Dish them up with plain butter and soy”
George Eberhard Rumpf’s Herbarium Amboinense was published

1751

Osbeck described tofu and soy sauce during visit to China

1753

Swedish botanist Linnaeus called soybeans Dolichos soja
Linnaeus classified Cannabis Sativa

1760

Shoyu was shipped to Ceylon

1764

Medical marijuana appeared in The New England Dispensatory
Swedish captain Ekeberg wrote about Chinese soy sauce

1765

Samuel Bowen brought soybeans to Georgia from China
George Washington was interested in farming hemp

1766

Samuel Brown received 200 guineas from King George III for soy sauce

1767

Samuel Brown mentioned soy sprouts and soy vermicelli

1770

Benjamin Franklin wrote about soybeans and tofu
Carl Linnaeus recognized five species of wheat
Captain Cook introduced potatoes to New Zealand

1770-75

Samuel Brown exported 1,058 quarts of soy sauce to England

1771

Translation of Osbeck’s Voyage makes first mention of “soya”

1776

Kentucky began growing hemp
U.S. Declaration of Independence drafted on hemp paper

1777

Wheat arrived in the American colonies

1778-1785

Benjamin Franklin was American Ambassador to France

1779

Encyclopedia Britannica states legumen serves for preparation of sooju or soy
Soybeans were definitely cultivated at Royal Museum

1785

Bryant described production of miso and soy sauce in East Asia

1790

Soybeans planted at Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England
U.S. founding fathers grew hemp

1793

Juan de Loureiro described soybean plant
British imposed regulation on cannabis in India

1794

Medical marijuana appeared in The Edinburgh New Dispensatory
German Moench suggested new scientific name Soja hispida

1796

Thunberg’s Voyages published discussing shoyu and miso

1798

Thomas Robert Malthus predicted population growth crash
Napoleon discovered Egyptian hashish use

1800s

Yeast identified as organism converting sugars to alcohol
Upper Canada’s Lieutenant Governor distributed free hemp seed
Marijuana plantations flourished in US states
Rice cultivation established in California

1804

A Yankee clipper ship brought soybeans to U.S.
James Mease’s article “Soy” in The Domestic Encyclopedia

1809

Antoine Sylvestre de Sacy incorrectly suggested etymology between “assassin” and “hashishin”

1813

Lorain first described effect of crossing dent and flint corns

1814

Exports of wheat and flour from US totaled 868,500 bushels

1815

Volcanic eruption at Tambora led to “year without summer”

1821

M.C. Brun de Beaumes did earliest known soybean culture tests in France

1824

Italian botanist Savi gave Japanese soybean scientific name Soja japonica

1829

U.S. farmers first grew soybeans for soy sauce

1830

250-300 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of wheat
Municipal Council of Rio de Janeiro prohibited bringing cannabis into city

1830s

Sir William Brooke O’Shaughnessy found cannabis extracts helped cholera patients

1831

Cyrus McCormick invented mechanical reaper

1832

Earliest known reference to soybeans in India by Roxburgh
Italian botanist Savi renamed Japanese soybean Soja viridis

1835

Club de Hashichines founded
Newspaper articles explained how to cross corn varieties

1838

Tennessee led US in corn production
Lea & Perrins introduced soy-based sauce

1839

Homeopathy journal published reports on Cannabis effects

1840

Soybean first grown in Italy near Verona
Census showed Ohio as premier wheat-producing state
Abraham Lincoln uses hemp oil for household lamps

1841

The practical grain drill was patented

1842

Irish physician O’Shaughnessy published cannabis research
First grain elevator in Buffalo, NY
Wheat type Red Fife is introduced

1843

French author Gautier published The Hashish Club

1844

Paris’ Club des Hashischins was founded

1845

Self-rising flour invented by Henry Jones
French physician Moreau published Hashish and Mental Illness
Siebold and Zuccarini gave scientific name to wild soybean
Irish Potato Famine began – over 1 million deaths

1847

Robert Reid created Reid’s Yellow Dent

1850

Cannabis added to U.S. Pharmacopoeia
Professor Inzenga did experiments on soybean cultivation
40-50 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of wheat

1850s

Swahili traders carried cannabis from east Africa to Congo Basin

1851

Soybean seeds distributed to farmers in Illinois

1853

Ernst of Ohio first referred to soybean as “Japan pea”

1854

Whittier wrote first American work mentioning cannabis as intoxicant
Perry Expedition to Japan noted two varieties of Soja bean

1855

Monsieur de Montigny began distributing soybean seeds
Pioneering soybean studies published by Fremy
Soy nuggets first referred to by Frenchman Julien
T.V.P. wrote about eating boiled soybeans
Fermented tofu first referred to by Frenchman Montigny

1856

British taxed “ganja” and “charas” trade in India

1857

American writer Ludlow published The Hasheesh Eater
Editorial in American Agriculturalist about soybeans

1858

French Society for Acclimatization first used soybeans as food
French poet Baudelaire published On the Artificial Ideal

1859

M. Vilmorin became first Westerner to make tofu in Europe

1860

Census showed Illinois as premier wheat-producing state
First clinical conference about cannabis in America

1861

German botanists found wild soybean species Glycine ussuriensis

1862

Eugene Simon gave detailed description of shoyu production
Hashish candy advertised in Vanity Fair

1864

Bentham divided genus Glycine into three sections
Soybeans first exhibited in India at Punjab Exhibition

1865

From 1865 to 1935, average corn yield in US essentially unchanged

1866

Pioneering soybean research by Frenchman Champion
Yuba and soymilk first referred to by Champion

1867

Exports from Manchuria included 61,200 tonnes of soybeans
Western corn rootworm first collected

1868

First mill for soy oil extraction came into being
Margarine invented in France by Mege-Mouries
Wheat type Squareheads Master is introduced

1869

Pierre noted soybean grown in Philippines
J.I. Pierre noted soybean grown in Cochin China
Corn cob pipes first manufactured in US
Rice introduced to Japan’s Hokkaido region

1870

First reports of hashish smoking on Greek mainland
Natal passed Coolie Law Consolidation
Earliest record of commercial cannabis cigarette

1872

First margarine plant started in Germany
Senft published earliest chemical analysis of soybean seeds

1873

Levi Strauss received patent for denim jeans
Russian botanist Maximowicz proposed Glycine hispida
Professor Friedrich Haberlandt began effort to expand soybean cultivation

1874

American Agriculturalist referred to soybean as Soy Pea
Hoffmann wrote first Western journal article about shoyu
Pioneering soybean research by German Ritter

1874-1891

Netherlands was world’s leading margarine manufacturer

1875

Dutch lexicographers made world’s earliest known reference to tempeh

1876

Hashish served at American Centennial Exposition

1877

Soyfoods made first appearance in Russia
Soy coffee first referred to by Haberlandt
First attempt to grow soybeans in Russia

1878

Roasted soy flour and soy chocolate first referred to
Dr. Friedrich Haberlandt’s Die Sojabohne published
Explosion at Washburn “A” Mill in Minneapolis
Iowa led US in corn production
Soybeans grown at Rutger’s Agricultural Farm
Langgaard discussed tofu
W.J. Beal conducted experiments with corn hybrids

1879

Long translation of Haberlandt’s article presented
Dr. Ernst Wein wrote on soybean cultivation
Cook included translation mentioning food uses
Prof. Edward Kinch gave nutritional analysis of shoyu
Greek Department of Interior prohibited hashish

1880

Society for Acclimatization in France first made tofu
Pellet noted soybean contained little starch
Vilmorin-Andrieux & Co. offered soybeans in seed catalog

1881

McBryde first used term “the soybean” spelled as one word
Pioneering soybean studies by Levallois in France

1882

Soybeans introduced to South America via Brazil
Soybeans grown on Saidapet Experimental Farm in Madras
Earliest known reference to soybean in Brazil by Gustavo D’Utra
Prof. Edward Kinch published first chemical analysis of miso
Alphonse de Candolle concluded soybean originated in East Asia
Research Plot 2 established at North Dakota State University

1883

Sturtevant reported soybeans grown at Cornell University
Meissl and Boecker published extensive analysis of soybean

1884

Paillieux and Bois wrote Le Potager d’un Curieux
Sweden’s first margarine plant started

1885

Paillieux reported soybean vernacular names
The Vegetable Garden published in English

1886

Stingl and Morawski gave detailed information on soy oil
Julius Maggi & Co. made first soy-sauce-like seasoning
British etymologists published Hobson-Jobson
J.J. Rein wrote The Industries of Japan

1887

Stingl and Morawski reported on sugars in soybeans

1888

Blondell did detailed studies of soybean anatomy
Kellner did world’s first scientific feeding experiments with soybean meal

1889

Okara first referred to by German Kellner
England’s first margarine plant built
Dr. Oscar Kellner wrote about tofu
Schulze and Steiger published reference to lecithin in soybeans

1890

Watt reported soybean extensively cultivated in India
Javanese began to emigrate to Suriname
Pellagra reached epidemic proportions in southern US
Wheat type Holdfast is introduced

1891

Soy flour first referred to in Netherlands
Georgeson noted soybean’s common name from sauce
James Reid won blue ribbon with Yellow Dent
From 1891 until 1951, Germany was world’s leading margarine manufacturer

1892

Henry Perky invented shredded wheat cereal
Corn Palace built in Mitchell, South Dakota
First gasoline tractor built by John Froelich

1893

Chicago World’s Fair – soybeans exhibited, Reid won gold medal
Bretschneider gave extensive information about soybeans in China
George Morrow proposed new corn production methods

1894

Natto first referred to by Japanese Yabe
Soy-based bread called “Asian Bread” made at Baune, France
Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)

1895

Brooks first American to use term “soya beans”
Kellner wrote about shoyu and miso production
First mention of soyfoods in Java by Prinsen Geerligs

1896

Dutchman H.C. Prinsen Geerligs article published in German
Soybeans first grown in Algeria by French agronomist Trabut
Henry Trimble’s “Recent Literature on the Soja Bean” published

1897

Loew discussed shoyu production in detail
First nutritional analysis of soybean protein in US
C.F. Langworthy’s “Soy Beans as Food for Man” published
David Fairchild organized Office of Seed and Plant Introduction

1898

Two-word spelling “soy bean” revived by USDA
Exports of wheat and flour from US totaled 223.8 million bushels

1899

Hosie estimated 555,000 tonnes of soybeans exported from Manchuria
Blasedale’s “Some Chinese Vegetable Food Materials” published

1900

Indian Trade Journal mentioned soybeans
P.A. Boorsma wrote 13-page review on soybeans
US Department of Agriculture conducting tests on soybeans
Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat introduced
Triscuit invented

1902

Senior Dutch author Vorderman wrote on tempeh

1903

Hydrogenation process patented by W. Normann
Lechartier made extensive investigations on soybean
First soybean trials in South Africa
William James Farrer created “Federation” strain of wheat

1904

George Washington Carver discovered soybeans valuable for protein and oil
Professor Loew wrote about dried-frozen tofu
‘Marquis’ bread wheat cultivar developed by Charles Saunders
Montana Elevator Co. founded

1905

BUI Quang Chieu wrote about soyfoods in Indochina
Pinolini published “Della Soia”
Earliest known reference to soybeans in Africa

1906

Europe’s first hydrogenation plant in England
Professor Loew wrote about yuba
Earliest known reference to soybeans in Zimbabwe
Saito published research on shoyu

1907

German Senft first European to mention natto
First large-scale imports of soybeans to Europe began
Soybeans first introduced in Tanzania by Germans

1908

Dramatic increase of interest in growing soybeans in Africa
Germany imported 670 tonnes of soybeans
Belgium imported 11,750 tonnes from East Asia
Netherlands imported 7,290 tonnes of soybeans
Mitsui made first trial shipment to Western world
Soybeans first introduced to Nigeria by British
781 Japanese peasants sailed to Brazil
G.H. Shull proposed corn improvement through selfing
Started in 1908, CIMMYT operates conventional breeding program

1909

Germans Goessel and Sauer patented rubber substitute from soy oil
Africa World commented on European soybean demand
Gilchrist did earliest study using soybean meal in feeds
Soybeans first grown in Ghana
Quantity of soybean seed imported to Australia
Fritz Haber succeeded in combining nitrogen with hydrogen
Western corn rootworm first identified as pest

1910

One-third of frying oil in London kitchens was soy oil
Germans doing culture trials in colonies
China produced 71% of world’s soybeans
G. Itie wrote six articles on soybean
Earliest known reference to soy oil in margarine
Sir Alfred Jones shipped soybeans to West Africa
Germany began large-scale imports of soy oil

1911

Patents and articles on soymilk by Loew
Hooper wrote “The Soy Bean in India”
Earliest known reference to soybeans in New Zealand
Australia’s first article on soyfoods appeared
Norman Shaw wrote The Soya Bean of Manchuria
Victoria Department imported soybeans for experimentation

1912

Japanese Embassy in Berlin hosted soyfoods dinner
Li Yu-ying published Le Soja
Journal of Agriculture stated soybean “one of Australia’s coming crops”
Tonnelier wrote La Soja Hispida in Argentina
Solac soymilk made in London

1913

Winkler wrote about soybeans in Manchuria
Woodhouse and Taylor described soybeans in Bengal
Monsted wrote first book about British margarine industry
Marschner marketed soybean “coffee without caffeine”
J.L. North adapted soybeans to English conditions
USDA had obtained 427 varieties of soybeans

1914

Mollieux published first study on soy sprouts
Patents on soymilk by Fischer
Grimme discussed manufacture of soymilk and tofu
Britain passed Netherlands as world’s second largest margarine producer

1915

Some Japanese in Brazil growing soybeans
The Lancet noted Solac looked like milk

1916

Stockman did first report on toxicity of soybean meal
Prof. Laxa developed method for making soymilk
Maurice Fuerstenberg wrote The Introduction of Soya
Indiana and Wisconsin ran dry-lot feeding trials with swine
Wheat type Yeoman is introduced

1917

Patents on soymilk by Fuerstenberg
Soymilk first patented in Netherlands by Goessel
D.F. Jones produced Burr-Leaming double cross corn hybrid

1918

Fruwirth wrote about soybeans in Austrian Gardening Newspaper
Imports of soybeans to America rose to 186% of domestic production

1919

William Morse co-founded American Soybean Association
USDA started recording soybean harvest figures

1920

Pynaert wrote about soybeans and Belgian colonies
Von Noorden recommended use of soy flour
Tofu first made in Denmark

1921

First collection of soybeans with specific genes started
Dr. Assen Zlataroff wrote brochure on soybean
J.L. North wrote “To Solve the Cost of Living Problem?”
Pedro Ciancio introduced soybean to Paraguay
D.F. Jones’ hybrid became commercially available

1923

Piper and Morse reported soybeans grown in Guyana
World’s first commercial production of soy lecithin in Germany
Die Sojabohne by Kempski published
Anglo-Chinese Trading Company started refining soy oil
Denmark first became interested in soybeans

1924

One-word spelling “soybean” became most popular
Soyfoods dinner given by British Empire League
Rhoad and Carneiro published earliest research on soyfoods in Brazil

1925

Ehrhorn patented new high-protein soy flour
Fiehe discussed food value of soybean
Selection and breeding of varieties for Zimbabwe commenced
Standards for grading soybeans established by USDA
First successful Brazilian trials in Sao Simao

1926

Zlataroff wrote “The Soybean and Its Value as a Foodstuff”
N.I. Vavilov discussed soybeans in classic studies
South Manchuria Railway published Soya Beans in Manchuria

1927

Dr. Bollmann invented process for defatted soy flour
Horvath listed nine types of soy flour
Trabut wrote “Le Soja Legume”
Commission for Study of Soya published article
Germany switched to net exporter of soy oil
Skvortzov published research on wild soybeans
X-ray induced mutations discovered

1928

Italian Poggi wrote manual on soybean cultivation
Dyson wrote about fermented tofu
Soybean successfully introduced to Samaru, Nigeria

1929

Dorsett-Morse Expedition to East Asia (1929-1931)
First soymilk plant started in Denmark
U.S. soybean production grew to 9 million bushels
Colombia introduced soybean as experimental crop
Langenberg wrote The Significance of the Soybean
By 1929, wheat variety Marquis made up 87% of US hard spring wheat acreage

1930

Berczeller’s soy flour made in Germany as Edelsoja
Tsao Lien-en reviewed history of soybean in Manchuria
William Morse’s article translated to Spanish
Morga founded in Switzerland
15-20 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of wheat

1931

USSR built Soybean Research Institute in Moscow
US first year of net soybean exports
Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov proposed teosinte origin theory of corn

1932

Du Toit wrote “Soy Beans in the Union”
Henry Ford acquired estate in Essex for soybeans
US exporting 17.5% of domestic soybean crop
Tenmarq wheat released by Kansas

1933

Belen’kii and Popova patented “Cheese from Soy Milk”
Maharaja held royal soybean planting ceremony
L’Heureux wrote on soybeans in Congo
Hitler came to power, I.G. Farben acquired Berczeller patent

1934

Torres Herrera wrote about soybeans in Nicaragua
After 1934, wheat variety Thatcher became popular

1935

Henry Ford using one bushel soybeans per car
Rudorf did work on breeding for German conditions
Mahatma Gandhi became interested in soybeans
Elizabeth Bowdidge’s The Soya Bean published
Leon Rouest founded “House of Soy”

1936

Rouest wrote Le Soja Francaise
Jean Bordas wrote on soyfoods
Soybeans traded at Chicago Board of Trade
USDA started cooperative program for improvement
Belgian government assigned INEAC to help Congo
Gray wrote about scientific study in Germany
G.D. Gray’s All About the Soya Bean published
US Regional Soybean Industrial Products Laboratory established
Wheat type Holdfast is introduced

1937

Lanzing and van Veen published soymilk research
First commercial soyfood in Africa – soy flour in South Africa
Viljoen reported on soybean meal for mine workers
Basu did nitrogen-balance studies
Trading in soybean futures by Chicago Board
Entire pamphlet using Cream of Wheat published

1938

Sessous did breeding work for Germany
German Army published German Army Soya Cookbook
Soybean introduced to Uganda

1939

Amadee Matagrin published Le Soja et les Industries du Soja
Soybeans first grown in Iran
Special Soybean Pit installed by Chicago Board
America produced less than 3% of world’s soybeans
Earliest known reference to soybeans in Middle East

1940

U.S. soybean crop grew to 78 million bushels on 5 million acres
Gottleib Haberlandt encouraged Germans to use soybeans
Amadee Matagrin wrote La Culture du Soja
Soybeans first grown in Turkey
Commercial scale production began in Zimbabwe
Dr. Manuel Gamio began work in Mexico
50% of US corn production planted with hybrid seeds
About 50% of US corn production area planted with hybrid seeds

1941

Alexandre wrote Le Haricot de Soja
Swedish Government distributed soybean seed

1942

Giraud-Gillet wrote Le Soja: Aliment d’Avenir
America became world’s leading soybean producer
Wartime film showed soyfoods use in Germany
Harvested acreage of soybeans exceeded sorghum
USDA issued “Soybean Oil and the War”

1943

Sasanka S. De worked with soymilk during Bengal famine

1944

US wheat production reached one billion bushels
Amadee Matagrin wrote Le Soya, Culture et Utilizations

1945

Rene Brochon had radio program on soybeans
Soybean growing halted in Austria

1945-1970

Change from horses to tractors characterizes second revolution

1946

Canadian soybean crop reached 1 million bushels
ENTI tempeh shop started in Netherlands
Wheat type Cappelle-Desprez is introduced

1947

Freitag’s The Soybean published
Commonwealth Mission investigated US soybean industry

1948

Sasanka S. De presented paper on “Soybeans in India”
Highest Italian soybean production at 2,900 tonnes

1949

Fiskeby III soybean released by Algot Holmberg
Two soybean collections established by USDA
Canadian crop reached 2 million bushels
Khorasan wheat reintroduced by American airman
International Grains Council established

1950

Soybean meal became low-cost feed ingredient
Soybean playing significant role in Spain
Soybeans first grown in Ethiopia
Connection between celiac disease and wheat made
National Association of Wheat Growers founded

1951

G. Ray wrote review of soymilk work in France
Pedro N. Ciancio wrote La Soja book
Australia’s first commercial production began

1952

Canadian soybean crop reached 4 million bushels
Norman Borlaug breeding fungus-resistant wheat

1954

Sanitarium Health Food Company marketed Soya Beans
Earliest known report of acreage in Zimbabwe
Number of tractors exceeded horses on farms

1955

Soybean Genetics Committee established
Spain passed West Germany as Europe’s largest soy oil importer
Japan became America’s largest soybean customer
6.5 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of wheat

1956

Soybean Council signed contract for Spain and Italy

1957

French per capita soybean consumption third lowest in Europe
Denmark was Europe’s largest soy oil exporter

1958

Denmark had 43 margarine plants

1959

Ireland started importing soybean meal
Wheat type Champlein is introduced

1960

Top three soybean importers: West Germany, Netherlands, Denmark
Rattray noted soybean planted on few Zimbabwe farms
Soybean Council began operating in Israel
Single cross hybrid corn seeds became common

1962

Australia’s oilseed crushers entered market
Spain started soybean imports

1963

Mexico passed Colombia in production
DeKalb XL45 hybrid first grown commercially

1964

Modern soybean production success story in India traced to 1963-64
Maris Widgeon wheat variety developed in UK

1965

Onochie studied soyfoods in Nigeria
Harrison founded Africa Basic Foods in Uganda
5 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of wheat

1967

Nutana began making soyfoods
Dr. Barretto introduced Solein in Brazil

1968

Industrial de Alimentos launched Isolac and Soyamalt

1969

Monsanto introduced Puma soymilk
America exported more than 50% of soybeans
America producing over 76% of world’s soybeans

1970

S. Kanthamani wrote Tasty Recipes from Soybean
Soyfoods began use in Chile
Percentage of white corn in US dropped to 1%
Barbara McClintock validated transposon theory

1971

Yong wrote MS thesis on soy sauce
Plant Variety Protection Act passed
Suberbie and Tello launched Sustilac
Wheat type Maris Huntsman is introduced

1972

Thio wrote about introducing soyfoods to Zambia
First soy dairy opened in India

1973

China made first significant imports
First World Soy Protein Conference in Munich
Soybeans became America’s number one cash crop
C.E. Clinkard wrote Soya, The Wonder Food

1974

China became net soybean importer
Brazil passed West Germany as crusher
First Latin American Soy Protein Conference
INTSOY organized major conference

1975

Soybean Research Institute founded in China
Soya Protein Conference in London
Basic Soybean Cooking published
3.75 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of wheat

1976

Jensen and Djurtoft published report on tempeh

1977

First hybrid soybeans available
McComb published thesis on tempeh
R.H. Moretti introduced “mechanical cow”
Egypt’s first commercial soyfood introduced

1978

Newman and Wright started Australia’s first tofu shop
Israel’s first tofu shop opened
Brazil began permitting soy as meat extender
Soyabean Abstracts introduced

1979

Nestle introduced Bonus soymilk
Bau and Debry published on soy sprouts
Harvested acreage passed corn for grain

1980

98% of Mexican soybeans used in feeds
China produced 9.3% of world’s soybeans
France’s crushing industry second largest
Whisker developed Gemsoy II strains
Italy consumed 300,000 tonnes soy oil
Brazil producing more soy oil than Western Europe
Wolfgang Furth-Kuby published Das Miso Buch
Single cross hybrid corn seeds were standard

1981

Hymowitz presented “History of Soybeans in the West”
76% of India’s soybeans in Madhya Pradesh
Le Compas did cover story on soyfoods
India eighth largest soybean producer in the world
O Livro da Soja published in Brazil
La Soya y Sus Derivados published in Mexico
Soy oil 44% of world’s edible oils
Australia’s first tempeh shops started
Sojaquelle started by Furth-Kuby
Germany’s first tofu shop started
Nestle helped finance Swiss research

1982

China/USA Soybean Symposium held
Krieger’s article published in French
France had six tofu plants
Four tofu plants in West Germany
Three tofu shops in Israel
Colombia fifth largest Latin American producer
Four tofu plants in England
Four tofu shops in Italy
Bolivia sixth largest producer
Bhutan purchased mechanized system
Brazil crushing 14 million tonnes

1983

Australia had seven tofu shops
Europe had 57 companies making tofu

1985

Wheat type Brimstone is introduced

1987

3 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels of wheat

1992

Corn transformed by biolistic methods

1993

Maize maze introduced by American Maze Company
Croatian 1 lipa coin depicted maize stalk
Wheat type Consort is introduced

1994

NAFTA caused corn price fall in Mexico

1996

First reference to ancient grains as health food
Mycogen Seeds released first commercial Bt-corn hybrids
Control failures for adult corn rootworms reported
Biotech herbicide-tolerant soybeans rose from zero

1997

Corn transformed by Agrobacterium methods
Roundup Ready corn received FDA approval
GM corn grown since 1997

1998

Average US farm operating costs $1.43 per bushel wheat
Roundup Ready Corn commercial release
Tonnage of maize exceeded wheat

1999

Tonnage of rice exceeded wheat
Scientists in Thailand claimed glyphosate-resistant wheat found

2000

$50 million food products recalled due to Starlink corn
Corn with stacked Bt traits went from 1% of acreage

2001

Wheat type Xi-19 is introduced

2002

Matsuoka study showed single corn domestication

2003

Cry3Bb1 corn introduced

2005

Duvick found 50% corn yield increases from breeding
Cry34/35Ab1 registered for commercial sale

2006

mCry3A registered for commercial sale

2007

Global corn production 736 million metric tons
Consumer Price Index showed no correlation between corn prices and retail food price changes
Western corn rootworm in 20 European countries

2008

Primary sequencing of corn genome completed
Folk musician Phil Vernon wrote ‘Red Fife Wheat’

2009

Bt-trait based rootworm controls met resistance
Cry3Bb1 resistant rootworms found in Iowa
85% of US corn genetically modified

2010

86% of US corn crop genetically modified
AWB acquired by Canadian firm Agrium

2011

32% of global corn crop was GM
Drought tolerant corn approved by USDA
Gluten-free food market valued at $1.6 billion
AWB changed name to Agrium Asia Pacific

2012

$1.7 billion R&D expenditures for biofuels
Ethanol industry supported 380,000 jobs
Despite largest corn acres, production fell 13%
Gananoque Brewing produced first Red Fife beer

2013

eCry3A released pyramided with mCry3A
US ethanol industry supported 390,000 jobs
New brown rice Triscuit introduced
Strain of glyphosate-resistant wheat found in Oregon
International Grains Council members listed
Corn with stacked Bt traits reached 71% in US

2014

36 million hectares planted to corn in US
40% of US corn used for ethanol
Total world corn production 1.04 billion tonnes
US produced 35% of world’s corn
China produced 21% of world’s corn
Ireland producing 10 tonnes wheat per hectare
General Mills launched Cheerios + Ancient Grains
Sanjaya Rajaram won World Food Prize
Wheat grown on more land than any other crop
McDonald’s offered Ebly salad in Switzerland
47% of world wheat from China, India, Russia, US

2015

CBO stated food prices similar with or without RFS
Value of corn production over $49 billion in US
Ravi Singh won China Friendship Award

2016

World wheat production 749 million tonnes
World’s top 10 soybean producers listed

2017

US accounted for 34% of world soybean production

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