Aarhus, Denmark
December 5, 2010
Can anything new be learned about a crop that has been grown for over 7,000 years? Scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences think so. They have published a report that portrays the many aspects of the ancient and sacred plant amaranth.
Historic, holy and healthy – but almost forgotten. This has been the fate of the plant called amaranth, which has been grown for more than 7,000 years in South America, but has become somewhat forgotten. The previously sacred plant is now experiencing a renaissance due to an international research project supported by the EU and led by scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Aarhus University.
The project has recently published its final report in which you can read about how the plant is grown, its properties and its beneficial feed and food values.
- You would not think that you could learn anything new about a plant that has been grown for millennia, but you can, actually, says the leader of the project senior scientist Inge S. Fomsgaard from the Department of Integrated Pest Management at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences.
Modern technology has made it possible to delve into the plant’s physiology, chemistry and biology, thus gaining a better understanding of, among other things, its nutritional value for animals and humans, and its suitability for foods such as bread or porridge. The project has also investigated growing conditions for amaranth.
- With this project we have tried to bring amaranth growing a step further and tried to find more ways of using the plant, says Inge S. Fomsgaard.
The scientists have stood on the shoulders of the ancient native Indians of South America and added to the knowledge that has been accumulated over thousands of years. The three-year project, which has had participants from Mexico, Argentina, Nicaragua, Czech Republic, Spain and Denmark, has produced many exciting results:
- The scientists now know more about which genes in the amaranth plant play a role in the plant’s resistance to drought and insect infestation.
- The scientists have identified which genotypes of amaranth are most competitive against weeds and have found which herbicides can be used when growing amaranth in those cases where mechanical weed control is not sufficient.
- By hydrolysing protein from amaranth the scientists have produced peptides that can lower blood pressure and inhibit cancer development.
- Amaranth leaves and seeds contain health-promoting phytochemicals
- If amaranth seeds are used for feed in fish farming you can produce large, healthy and tasty fish.
Read more about amaranth and the project AMARANT:FUTURE-FOOD
The final report from the project “Adding Value to Holy Grain: Providing the Key Tools for the
Exploitation of Amaranth - the Protein-rich Grain of the Aztecs. Results from a Joint European - Latin American Research Project” can be downloaded.
Facts about amaranth:
- Amaranth is rich in history, beliefs and stories of survival.
- Not only is the plant hardy, it delivers lots of good nutrition and has ensured the survival of many Central and South American Indians for millennia.
- Amaranth has been grown by Mayas, Incas and Aztecs in Central and South America since 5000 BC and was – together with maize – an important part of the indians’ diet for thousands of years.
- In times of yore the Indians mixed amaranth with either blood or dye in religious rituals. This tradition disappeared with the arrival of Columbus to South America. He had the idea that there could only be one god. The result was that amaranth growing was forbidden.
Photo: Inge S. Fomsgaard
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