USIP Alliance director celebrates ‘special relationship’ with Japanese natto industry

As the leading voice for identity preserved agriculture in the United States, the United States Identity Preserved Alliance (USIP Alliance) is handing the microphone to Kajinoya for taking home the gold during the Japan Natto Cooperative Society Federation’s (Nattoren) annual Natto Contest in the Best Natto using U.S.-sourced soybeans category. 

“They were ecstatic with the award,” said USIP Alliance Director Bob Sinner, who presented Kajinoya with the award.  

Created to encourage innovation in process and manufacturing techniques and further enhance the quality of natto, the Natto Contest, which had about 400 entries across all categories this year, determines the best natto in Japan with judges evaluating natto based on visual appearance, aroma and taste and texture. At the encouragement of the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association, USIP Alliance’s predecessor organization, Nattoren introduced a category featuring natto made with U.S. soy. 

“We developed a relationship with Nattoren and 15 years ago we said if you establish a U.S. category, we’ll present an award to the winner,” said Sinner, president of SB&B Foods. “We wanted them to use U.S. beans, so let’s create a U.S. category.” 

With a mission to build, grow and sustain a reliable supply chain that ensures integrity of the end product, with a commitment to quality, stewardship and innovation, USIP Alliance understands the critical role of developing and nurturing relationships. Supporting the Natto Contest puts U.S. soy in the spotlight and encourages manufacturers to look to U.S. Identity Preserved soy. 

“They need the supply,” Sinner said. “They don’t produce enough domestic soybeans to fill the demand of the natto, tofu, miso, soy milk and sprout industry. There just aren’t enough soybeans. And natto manufacturers prefer U.S. soy for their products.”   

With U.S. Identity Preserved, customers receive the exact qualities and characteristics that they order.  

“The purity is preserved,” Sinner said. “That’s what identity preserved means. So, there is no commingling of varieties and supplied by U.S. Identity Preserved certified suppliers; those beans are going to perform better and more consistently. That’s why the Alliance is so important to the industry because it represents suppliers of identity preserved, food-grade, non-GMO soybeans.” 

Nattoren was founded in 1954 by businesses involved in natto production as an industry organization to promote the benefits of natto and add value to natto products and aims to promote natto culture and expand the industry. The relationship between Nattoren and USIP Alliance is vital to farmers, food manufacturers, processors and packagers. 

“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with Nattoren and have been instrumental in creating and supporting activities that have increased the demand for U.S. soybeans,” Sinner said. “It’s a special relationship.”