2015 Amaranth Institute Conference

The Role of Amaranth in the Changing Farm Dynamics of Chuquisaca, Bolivia and its Contribution to the Incomes of Producers

Amaranth (Amaranthus L.) is a nutritious crop, rich in varieties and adaptable to adverse agro-ecological conditions. Increased interest in the grain amaranth due to its high nutritional content has opened new markets of commercialization. In the Department of Chuquisaca, Bolivia, communities have begun to increase the area cultivated by the crop to respond to profit incentives and increased promotion of the crop by various government, commercial and institutional actors. This study aims to zoom in at the farm level to understand the current role of amaranth in production systems, what has shaped this role, and how the current role contributes to the incomes of producers.

The study was completed in 3 communities in 2 different municipalities in Central Chuquisaca; two with more recent histories of expanding production (1-2 years) and one in with a longer history of amaranth production (5 years). The study employed a number of qualitative methods to understand the agro-ecological, historical, farm management and socio-economic context in which the adoption of grain amaranth has taken place.

Results were analyzed considering the interaction of amaranth with other crops in the production system, the livelihoods framework that sets the context for the role of amaranth, and the contribution amaranth has to the incomes of producers. Although the adoption of amaranth takes on slightly different roles in the context of the three communities, in all three, amaranth production takes place in a context of diversified systems with alternative crop substitutes. By 2013, amaranth has been integrated into production systems that face fewer limitations. Among those producing amaranth, the crop holds a secondary role both in the crop strategies and incomes, although it has the potential to take on a primary role in select production systems.

Anna Madalinska Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Morphological or structural variations in amaranth species translate into different dry matter yields. Dry matter yield which is a product of plant growth is an interaction between plant architecture and the environment. Both plant architecture and the environment influence physiological processes including photosynthesis which drives dry matter production. Plant architecture or structure is the 3-dimensional representation of plant organs. The shape, size and orientation of the organs constitute the geometry whiles the type of organs and the connectivity between them forms the topology. Current technologies use contact and non contact methods to capture plant architectural features.

The most common non contact method uses the 3-D Fastrak magnetic digitizer to acquire plant features for the reconstruction of the plant. The reconstructed plant architecture serves as a model for analysing the captured resources, particularly photosynthetic active radiation or photosynthetic photon flux density use for dry matter production. Light interception for photosynthesis in a plant canopy, depends on plant architectural traits mainly, leaf shape, leaf size, leaf orientation (azimuth or inclination angle) and internode length. To our knowledge 3-d digitization method has not been used on amaranths. Therefore, the objective of this study is to use 3-D digitizing to quantify the differences in architectural traits in some selected amaranth species and further relate it to their dry matter yields.

Mildred Osei-Kwarteng et al Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Gartenbauliche Produktionssysteme

Downloadable documents: PDF of presentation Quantifying Architectural Traits of Amaranths

The Ministry of Health and Child Care outlines that 35% of all child deaths in Zimbabwe result from maternal and child under-nutrition, with rural areas contributing the greater portion of these deaths. Nutritional and health challenges affecting the older population in the country such as low intake levels of micronutrients, high morbidity and mortality rates of different diseases can both be directly and indirectly attributed to poor nutrition. In addressing malnutrition, the government of Zimbabwe, partnering with developmental agencies has embarked on a drive to promote the production, consumption and marketing of small grains and other underutilized crops at national level. This paper will outline in detail the aforementioned activities and how they have contributed to the promotion of amaranth and the uptake of the grain in Zimbabwe.

Lillian Machivenyika Director Cluster Agricultural Development Services, Zimbabwe

Downloadable documents: Amaranth Production in Zimbabwe

Evaluation of World Renew’s Introduction and Promotion of Grain Amaranth in East Africa: 1999-2008

World Renew’s work on the introduction and promotion of grain amaranth in East Africa began in 1999 in two villages located the semi-arid part of the Machakos District, Kenya. Training and amaranth seed lines were provided by Davidson Mwangi, a Kenyan agronomist. Amaranth’s drought resistance and drought avoidance, it’s high protein/high lysine content, balance of amino acids and other nutrients, and its taste acceptability when mixed with maize, millet, wheat and cassava were all favorable factors.

The initial trials were in villages that had repeatedly sought food relief assistance during drought years. After 2000, World Renew’s amaranth promotion expanded to include higher rainfall areas of Western Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. During 2006-2008 the Canadian Food Grains Bank provided a total of $207,475 that enabled focused, reinforcement training in amaranth production and food preparation.In 2014 a post-facto evaluation was carried out to analyze the sustainability of World Renew’s amaranth promotional work in East Africa. Questionnaires were administered to 480 farmers from the 3 countries and participatory focus group evaluation was carried out in Kenya and Uganda. 300 out of the 480 exposed to amaranth training were found to be continuing growing amaranth. The major reason cited for discontinuing was lack of market access. The major reasons cited for continuing were positive impacts on family health, particularly on children and people living with HIV; relative ease of including amaranth flour in the daily diet within the millet or maize porridge mixtures, income generated from marketing (in Western Kenya); and the adaptability of amaranth to short rainy seasons, climatic conditions, and small farm situations.

The evaluation recommendations include: 1) further research on amaranth’s potential effect on the human immune system, 2) improving training on seed selection and the supply of high quality seed to replace lines that have crossed with wild types, 3) combining amaranth training with training on soil fertility restoration, 4) further promotion of amaranth as a nutritional supplement crop, 5) avoidance of marketing promises, and 6) sharing of amaranth learning and information among organizations working in East Africa.

Thomas Post Team Leader for World Renew-Asia

Downloadable documents: PDF of presentation World Renew Amaranth Highlights 1998-2014

The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System’s Amaranthus collection consists of 3,338 accessions, of which 96% are available for distribution and 97% are backed up at the National Center for Germplasm Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The collection is maintained at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) in Ames, Iowa. Many types of amaranth are represented including grain, vegetable, ornamental, and wild accessions of 41 of an estimated 70 Amaranthus species. Species not represented in the collection are primarily wild-growing and native outside of the United States. Small seed samples are distributed free of charge to support global research and educational objectives where genetic diversity or genetic standards are a requirement. When the latter are not required, requestors are referred to commercial sources as appropriate; we do not compete with the private sector.

The Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database provides both online accesses to information associated with the accessions and a vehicle to request germplasm. GRIN information includes germplasm origin (provenance), taxonomy, images of plants100 seed weights and other information of value to the user community. We have begun to use GRIN to organize citations of research publications linked to the accessions used in the research. We continue to seek seeds and information that will develop into a useful collection that is representative of the breadth of genetic diversity and adaptation.

David M. Brenner Department of Agronomy, Plant Introduction Station Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA

Downloadable document: PDF of presentation Status of the Amaranthus Seed Collection

Amaranths belong to the genus Amaranthus which comprises approximately 70 species of C4 dicotyledonous herbaceous plants. Amaranths are very hardy plants with high biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. The genus Amaranthus contains both cultivated and wild species with the cultivated types used for food grain, leafy vegetables, forage, ornamental gardening. The major species of cultivated grain Amaranths are A. caudatus, A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus and their parental wild species are A. hybridus, A. quitensis and A. powelli. Amaranths are mostly monoecious plants that are partially self-pollinating crops with varying amount of outcrossing. Interspecific and inter-varietal hybridization occurs which has resulted in wide genotypic variation. Knowledge of relative gene frequency among and within wild population would be useful in plant breeding and developing ex situ conservation strategies of plant genetic resources.

Our goal, therefore, was to analyze 260 genotypes obtained from North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, USDA and 33 accessions obtained from Seed Savers’ exchange using 20 highly polymorphic SNP markers distributed across the amaranth genome. SNP markers are based on DNA sequence variation where single nucleotide differs between genotypes and are method for genetic diversity analysis. Information on Amaranth genetics are useful since seeds of the crop are rich in protein showing high promise for supplementing diets and ameliorating protein deficiency in vegetarians as well as providing health benefits to present and future consumers.

Ranjita Thapa1, Matthew Edwards1, David Brenner2, Tim Johnson3 and Matthew W. Blair1

1 College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville TN
2 North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, USDA, ISU
3 Seed Savers’ Exchange, Decorah, Iowa, USA

Downloadable documents: PDF of presentation Development of a Grain Amaranth breeding program for Tennessee

Nutrition Solution S.A. was created with nature in mind. Our methods and processes strive to maintain a healthy balance between obtaining nutritious foods and conserving the harmony of Mother Nature. Our products are 100% natural. We use the most minimal processing possible to maintain the nutritious benefits of the ingredients that go into our delicious foods.

NutriSolución

Downloadable documents: PDF of presentation Ancient Grains From The Andes

Puente A La Salud Comunitaria envisions a world where families and communities live with dignity and exercise their food sovereignty through the sustainable cultivation, consumption, exchange and commercialization of local healthy food sources. We believe amaranth is a strategic crop for achieving this vision owed to its pertinence with the local customs and adaptation to the local environment.

Puente a la Salud Comunitaria contributes to food sovereignty and advances the health and well-being of rural communities in Mexico by promoting the cultivation, consumption and commercialization of amaranth.

Pete Noll 

Downloadable documents:
PDF of presentation Sewing Amaranth, Harvesting Community
PDF Mexican Government Amaranth Value Data (in Spanish)

Founded in 1983 as Nu-World Amaranth, Inc. Nu-World Foods offers:Ancient Grain based, Allergy-Friendly, Specialty & Functional IngredientsContract Blending & Packaging of Flours and Dry Mixes (AG not required)R&D, Application Development, and Formulation Services

Closely held family business with its corporate headquarters in Naperville, Illinois; two processing facilities in Dyersville, Iowa; and Additional Offsite Warehousing near Dyersville, Iowa.

Jonathan Walters NuWorld Foods

Downloadable documents: PDF of presentation Ancient Grains | Modern Market

Empower Tanzania works entirely through partnerships between Americans and Tanzanians, and nowhere is that more important than in our staffing. In Tanzania, all of our operations are under the watchful eye of Mr. Elibariki Kisimbo of Same, Kilimanjaro where our office is located. Kisimbo is Empower Tanzania’s Director of Development and his responsibility is to ensure that we achieve our goals as we work with Tanzanians to sustainably improve quality of life in rural areas. Kisimbo’s background is in Community Development and Agriculture, and he believes that his role at Empower Tanzania will contribute significantly to the positive development changes of entire communities in rural Tanzania.

Elibariki Kisimbo Empower Tanzania

Downloadable documents: PDF of presentation An Overview of Amaranth Production in Tanzania