Innovation and Development
Executive Summary
Held between October 6-8, 2011, in Ames, Iowa, with the support of David Brenner, the planning committee and Iowa State University, the Amaranth Institute organized and held a three-day conference that covered key topics in the field of amaranth. The event attracted a diverse group of presenters and participants ranging from the food industry to academic to development workers. Individuals and organizations from as far as Africa and Mexico to various US states attended the daily activities. Many of the original pioneers, dating back decades, joined in discussions with up-and-coming individuals and organizations interested in renewing energy and time to further promote amaranth nationally and globally.
The event attracted a diverse group of presenters and participants ranging from the food industry to academic to development workers. Individuals and organizations from as far as Africa and Mexico to various US states attended the daily activities. Many of the original pioneers, dating back decades, joined in discussions with up-and-coming individuals and organizations interested in renewing energy and time to further promote amaranth nationally and globally.
Topics included grain production in Tanzania, Betalain in Amaranth, Forage properties, and appropriate technology. In addition, the attendees we treated with a trip to the NCRPIS Plant Introduction Station, amaranth greenhouses, a dinner business meeting, and a final morning of presentations. In the final session of the conference, Katherine Lorenz facilitated a discussion on the current state of amaranth and what priority steps could be taken to the next level.
The group discussed some of the barriers related to systems challenge, lack of rigorous nutritional data, and its association with Palmer weed, amongst others. But they also identified new opportunities as part of a slow food movement, healthy livelihoods, the food service industry and its potential in development and climate change. While no confirmed date was set, the new Board of Directors penciled in a 2013 date in the Chicago area with a day trip to Nu-World’s processing facilities and amaranth fields. The Amaranth Institute invites you to join the organization and thereby unite talents, ideas and actions related to always promising crop: amaranth.
The 2011 Conference was held at Iowa State University from 6 to 8 October of that year.
Under the umbrella subtitle Innovation and Development, AI members and Conference attendees were presented with a wide range of information concerning pioneering work including inspirational village-level projects in the developing world, the latest innovations from product developers and cutting edge research emerging from research and engineering labs.
The Role of Grain Amaranth in Improving Nutrition, Health and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa
Malnutrition is a major direct and indirect cause of infant and childhood mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Vulnerable individuals with high nutrient requirements are often too poor to access adequate amounts of nutrient-rich animal foods. Grain amaranth (GA) has the potential to improve nutrition because of its superior nutritional quality compared to common staples.
Dr Dorothy Nakimbugwe
School of Agricultural Science
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Downloadable documents: PDF Grain Amaranth In Uganda: History, progress and prospects
Grain amaranth is a small seeded pseudo – cereal that produces grain which is highly nutritious, it has a high potential for food security and nutrition improvement. Among other nutrients amaranth (seeds) has a protein value equivalent to meat protein which is easily digested and absorbed into the body. The protein in amaranth is one of only two complete plant proteins known in the plant kingdom.
Amaranth is an important food source for:
•Pregnant mothers needing extra iron and calcium
•For babies needing nutritional supplement to thrive.
•People who are anemic and diabetic.
•People who want to ensure they have a good amount of fiber and protein in their diet.
In addition to the above, grain amaranth can be used as most vulnerable children (mvc) feeding supplements.
Elibariki Fanuel Kisimbo
Development Director, Empower Tanzania, Inc.
Downloadable documents: PDF The Importance of Grain Amaranth
Processing units have been studied, designed and deployed for threshing, winnowing, and popping amaranth in developing cultures. The popping units have focused on large scale (50 lb/hr) and small scale (3-5 lb/hr) units, with different market intentions. The design principles and the status of each of these processing units will be reported with emphasis on the needs to make these units more effectively deployed in the future.
J. A. Sykes, Ph.D., P.E. Calvin College, Engineering Department, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Downloadable documents: PDF Engineered Units for Processing Amaranth in Developing Countries
Biochemical Characterization of Amaranthus Cell Wall as a Lignocellulosic Biomass Resource in Biorenewable Energy Production
Amaranthus seeds and leaves are recognized as a nutrition source in many parts of the world. Many Amaranthus species produce large quantities of leaf and stem biomass thereby making these plants a potentially valuable biorenewable energy resource. Regardless of this potential, research into the biochemical composition of Amaranthus cell wall is limited.
Our objective was a cell wall compositional analysis of Amaranthus varieties DB 98246 and PI558499 at three developmental stages for comparison with other biorenewable energy crops, such as maize, sorghum, switchgrass, and Miscanthus. Plants grown in field conditions were harvested at 1, 2, and 3-month old intervals to analyze quantities of cellulose, lignin, hydroxycinnamic acids, hemicelluloses, and monosaccharide composition of hemicelluloses in leaves and stems.
Both Amaranthus varieties presented similar cell wall composition and cell wall primary component changes during development. In stems, lignin content progressively increased at each sample month and cellulose content increased during first two sample months but not in the third sample month. Xylan, the primary component of hemicelluloses, increased during the first two months of growth. In Amaranthus leaves, lignin was undetectable but the quantity of the hydroxycinnamic acid ferulic acid was equivalent to the quantity in Amaranthus stems. Amaranthus cell wall composition presented comparable differences from cell wall composition of maize, switchgrass, and Miscanthus.
Specifically, Amaranthus had greater quantities of cellulose than maize, lower quantities of lignin than Miscanthus, and lower quantities of hydroxycinnamic acids than both crops. The Amaranthus cell wall composition analyses indicate it is a suitable lignocellulosic biomass resource for biorenewable energy production when harvested before reaching full maturity.
A. M. Salazar 1, D. Brenner 2 and O. A. Zabotina 1
1 Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University
2 Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
Downloadable documents: PDF Biochemical Characterization of Amaranthus Cell Wall
Forage Properties and Advantages of Grain Amaranth Following Wheat in Midwestern Rotational Forage Production Systems
Grain amaranth has many great qualities that make it well suited as forage for livestock. However, overcoming the issues of weed control and best management practices for grain amaranth forage production, and the obscurity of amaranth to producers has long plagued amaranth’s integration into Midwestern crop production systems.
A variety of trials were and are currently taking place to show not only the advantages to amaranth grown after wheat grain harvest for forage, but also how amaranth compares to other crops that could fill the same niche. Amaranth has shown great promise as a double crop option following wheat, and may in instances of few double crop opportunities increase farm profitability and overall farm sustainability.
John E. McMillan, Keith D. Johnson, Tamilee D. Nennich
1 Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
2 Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, US
Downloadable documents: PDF Forage Properties and Advantages of Grain Amaranth
The presentation will look at the opportunities and potential that amaranth offers small-scale growers in rural communities in southern Mexico. Much of the experience and analysis could be adapted and transformed to other countries where local context is similar.
I will examine the current market using a model to breakdown the supply chain and identify the key areas that local farmers could capitalize on. Unlike some traditional market-to-market models for alternative grains, I will discuss how our participatory approach seeks to integrate the family members into decision-making and organization of the farmer groups.
In conclusion, I would like to open up a discussion about the pros and cons of the approach in light of the current food system and policies.
Peter Noll
The cultivated grain amaranth species (Amaranthus caudatus, A. cruentus, and A. hypochondriacus) have pollination cross-compatibility with wild Amaranthus species. The resulting hybrid progeny create difficulty in the maintenance of genetically clean seed stocks for commercial agricultural use. There is potential for plant breeders to select for cultivars that minimize cross-compatibility with wild Amaranthus species, resulting in cultivars that are easier to maintain genetically.
Progress on improving the genetic purity of commercial amaranth varieties will depend on the development of practical out-crossing assessments for breeding lines with wild Amaranthus species. We propose systematic evaluation of Amaranthus grain lines for cross-compatibility with common Amaranthus weed species.
In 2005 we produced seed lots contaminated by pollen primarily from weedy Amaranthus tuberculatus plants under defined field conditions. Populations grown from these seed lots were visually inspected for weedy-hybrid off-type plants. Weedy-hybrid progeny were 20% of PI 538321 (n= 40), 9% of PI 558499 (n= 153), and 2.8% of PI 604461 (n= 209). Surprisingly PI 538327 (n= 246) progeny were not contaminated. These preliminary data support the hypothesis that useful differences in out-crossing rates exist, and that development of commercial cultivars with minimal out-crossing potential is feasible.
David Brenner
Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
The North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station amaranth germplasm collection holds 3,346 accessions, 95% of which are available for distribution. Thirty-nine of the estimated 60 Amaranthus species are represented in the collection. Distribution lots are stored in pint jars in the NCRPIS seed storage vault at 4 degrees centigrade and 25% relative humidity.
Amaranth seed samples are sent to approximately 50 recipients per year. Our seed regenerations are performed in plastic tents in a greenhouse. The seed is dried, hand-threshed by rubbing, and then cleaned in air column separators (or “blowers”). A belt thresher is used for large seed lots.
The 2011 amaranth demonstration field includes East African, Mexican, non-shattering, male-sterile, vegetable, and ornamental lines.
The genus Amaranthus is grown commercially for high-value edible seeds, vegetable, forage and ornamental uses. The enhancement breeding is to develop traits that are not available in commercial Amaranthus varieties. This breeding is compatible with the conservation, maintenance, characterization, and evaluation activities that support a collection of 3300 accessions of diverse Amaranthus germplasm for research and crop improvement. Iowa State University has released five improved lines; their traits include non-shattering seed cases and large stems with good resistance to lodging for biomass.
The Non-shattering trait results in better seed retention which may improve seed yields, and improve ornamental lines for cut-flower use. Phenotypic trait evaluation information can be found in the GRIN database. Accessions have been identified with the following traits: non-shattering, male sterility, heavy seeds, and dark red foliage. Accessions with red foliage pigmentation have potential for use in food coloring. The next goal is to document accessions that have minimal crossing with weedy Amaranthus species Incompatibility with weedy species may be useful for maintaining pure commercial lines.
David Brenner
Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Protein energy malnutrition is still widespread in East Africa and other developing countries. It is a major direct and indirect cause of infant and childhood mortality and morbidity. Coupled with this is the widespread of malnutrition which mostly caused by poverty and inability to access adequate amounts of expensive protein foods to meet dietary requirements.
There is therefore a need for alternative cheap sources of high quality protein. Amaranth grain seed, with its superior protein quality and quantity has the potential to substitute expensive animal protein because it grows fast, is high yielding under a wide range of agro-climatic conditions. The main goal of this research was to determine optimum agronomic practices for grain amaranth production in Uganda. On station trials were carried to determine optimum agronomic and agro-climatic conditions for Grain Amaranth. Results from on station trials were used to set up farmer managed on farm trials to verify them under farmers’ conditions.
Golden and white seeded varieties were tested. Three major treatments were set up grain amaranth pure stand, grain amaranth intercropped with beans and maize (single and double intercrops). Soil fertility enhancement treatments were included using control, farm yard manure (90 tonne per Ha based on recommendations from on station trials, Wekesa, 2010) and inorganic fertilizers (urea and DAP) at the rates of 90 Kg of Nitrogen per Ha. The specific objectives of the research were to determine the effects of intercropping and fertilizer use on growth, yield and profitability of grain amaranth under farmers’ conditions.
Mercy Kabahuma
Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
J. Mugisha & D. Nakimbugwe 1, R. Nyankanga 2, D. Masinde 3, M. Kabahuma 3, J. Nteeba 3, D. Lutwama 4
1 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Makerere University P.O. Box 7062 Kmapala, Uganda
2 Department of Plant Science & Crop Protection, University of Nairobi P.O. Box 30197-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
3 College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
4 Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns, P.O. Box 1244 Kampala, Uganda
Genus Amaranthus comprises leaf vegetable and grain crops, horticultural varieties, and weedy plants distributed throughout the world. Historical accounts suggest multiple uses and potentially several different origins of cultivated species and varieties that have been locally and/or regionally important in several cultures across the globe.
Additionally, although weedy species make up only a few of the recognized species in this genus, their impact on agriculture through rapidly evolutionary resistance to herbicides, is serious. Several species, including Amaranthus palmeri in the Southern U.S., negatively impact agro ecosystems through rapid population expansion and adaptations such as long seed viability, high seed count, potential hybridization with other Amaranthus species, and broad seed dispersal.
We aim to compare the patterns of character traits and the molecular evolution of candidate genes involved in key cultivation and agro ecosystem adaptations across genus Amaranthus. The first step is to examine the genetic relationships among Amaranthus species and estimate a best fit phylogeny. Once the genetic history is better understood, we can compare ancestral versus derived character traits and molecular sequence states in candidates genes.
We present the first best fit, multi-locus genus-wide phylogenetic tree of genus Amaranthus estimated using a total evidence and Bayesian statistical analysis. This more narrow sequence based view of the relationships among Amaranthus species will give us a robust framework for understanding the molecular evolution of genes, particularly those responsible for cultivation history and adaptations in agro ecosystems.
A. Lawton-Rauh and K. Beard
Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Downloadable documents: PDF Phylogenetic Relationships within Genus Amaranthus