Case Study
Sustaining soy in Vienna
SOY STRENGTHENS ITS CONGRESS ROOTS IN VIENNA , ALTHOUGH ITS HISTORY CAN BE TRACED BACK TO 1873
V iennese cuisine is famous for being heavy on meat , yet soy – a mainstay of vegetarian diets – is now cultivated on 224 hectares in Vienna , 35 % of it in an eco-friendly way .
Vienna and soy are connected by a long history . In 1873 , the plant made its way from Japan to Vienna , before going on to conquer the world .
So , how did the well-known bean come from Japan to Vienna ?
It all began in 1872 , when the agricultural scientist Friedrich Haberlandt ( 1826-1878 ), was appointed to the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna , where he lectured from 1872 to 1878 and was also responsible for the soil culture section at the 1873 Vienna World ’ s Fair , where the soybean was first presented to a global audience .
The crate that contained the original soybeans from 1873 can be seen in the current permanent exhibition of the Weltmuseum Wien .
And a special collection on the 1873 Vienna World ’ s Fair can be seen free of charge in the arcade of the Austrian
Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art until 8 October , 2023 . Haberlandt started on the first cultivation trials at Schönborn Garden Palace .
In 2018 , a multi-disciplinary symposium convened by the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art focused on the issue of soy and urban agriculture . Now the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art invites you to visit its online exhibition MuSOJAm .
World Soybean Research Congress ( WSRC ) 2023 Our little historical excursion above , helps us understand perhaps how Vienna managed to attract a special congress dedicated to the topic of soy in 2023 – the WSRC Donau Soja , a non-profit organisation based in Vienna , focuses on a GM-free soy production and protein supply in Europe , and played a key role in bringing the first European World Soybean Research Congress to the Austria Center Vienna 18-23 June , 2023 .
The Mayor of Vienna attended the Congress where the opening research
Right : Soy experts gathered in Vienna in June 2023 although the bean first came to
Austria in 1873 plenary included key speakers : Jingyuan Xia , director of the plant production and protection division ( NSP ), FAO , Italy . He addressed the theme ‘ Optimisation and minimisation towards sustainable soybean production ’. Istvan Rajcan , University of Guelph , Ontario , and member of the WSRC Continuing Committee , who spoke on ‘ Classical and modern technologies used worldwide for sustainable soybean production ’.
The programme in Vienna featured sessions on breeding , genetics , genomics and biotechnology , as well as food , feed and nutrition . Speakers also addressed issues of agronomy , weeds , diseases , pests and their management and there were workshops on soy processing technologies .
A welcome reception was hosted at Austria Center Vienna , 18 June , and provided a chance for scientists and international exhibitors to network .
The Night of European Soy took place on 19 June in the Weltmuseum , home to the oldest soybeans of Europe , located in the Imperial Palace in the centre of Vienna . Thirty European producers presented their ‘ soy-licious ’ specialities for the 300 participants . The conference is a good example of how sustainable initiatives can impact destinations and leave a worthwhile legacy , just like the World Fair did in 1873 .
The next World Soybean Research Conference will be held in Rosario , Argentina in 2027 .
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