Doctor Nori - The Mother of The Sea

Aug. 22, 2011 - PRLog -- Dr Drew-Baker of the University of Manchester made the discovery that sparked the development of the nori cultivation industry, which the worldwide sushi industry now relies upon.
In 1948, disaster struck the Japanese nori farming industry. The increased use of
fertilizers and industrial pollution in coastal waters, combined with a series of typhoons destroyed many of the seaweed beds and led to very poor harvests. Many farmers lost their livelihoods and as a result were left with nothing.
Japanese scientists were unable to offer any practical help, as little was known about the life cycle of the nori seaweed.
In 1949, Dr Drew-Baker published a paper detailing her research findings on the life history of the seaweed porphyra umbilicalis. Because this seaweed and nori are part of the same family, Dr Drew-Baker’s discovery enabled Japanese scientists to build on her work and develop artificial seeding techniques. The new techniques enabled nori to be grown as a farm crop and led to greater control over harvests.
The Doctor is now remembered by a statue erected by the Japanese nori farmers. ‘The Mother of The Sea’ overlooks the sea at Kumamoto. Each year on 14 April, people involved in the nori industry gather to celebrate the ‘Drew Festival’.

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