Amaranth Resources
Originating in the Americas and Europe, amaranth has been cultivated for more than 8,000 years, dating back at least to the Mayan civilization of South and Central America. It was a staple of the Aztecs and incorporated into their religious ceremonies. In the 1500’s the Spanish conquistadors prohibited amaranth production. In that area today only a limited amount of amaranth grain is grown, most of which is popped and mixed with honey to make a confection called, “alegría.” However, much of the genetic base has been maintained there because amaranth has continued to grow as a wildflower.
Amaranth consists of 60–70 species, 40 of which are considered native to the Americas. Over 400 varieties within these species are found throughout the world in both temperate and tropical climates, and fall roughly into one of four categories: grain, vegetable, ornamental or weed. Many fall into more than one. Vegetable amaranth has been used in China for over 400 years, yet is commonly found in the Caribbean and Africa; grain amaranth was cultivated and revered by the Aztecs in Mexico, the Mayas in Central America and the Inca in South America.
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Amaranthus hybridus is also known as smooth pigweed or slender pigweed. It can be grown both for its edible leaves and its edible grain. The difference in this species from other grain amaranthsis that it produces black seeds. A. hybridusgrows as a 1-2m tall annual. It is adrought tolerant crop....
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Grain amaranths are annual plants and include several species of Amaranthus grown specifically for the seeds which are usually lighter colored than vegetable amaranth varieties. The cultivation of grain amaranths as food plants is traceable to ancient Aztec civilizations of Mexico. The grain...
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Ornamental amaranth is a fast-growing annual, up to 2.5 m in height. The stems end in a large, sometimes drooping inflorescence that may be red, purple or green. The leaves may be used as a leafy vegetable. Mainly used as an ornamental, but leaves and seeds are also edible.
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Amaranthus spp. is an annual, erect herb (up to 1 m tall) grown for its edible leaves Leaves grow up to 8 cm in length and are present in an alternate arrangement along the stem. Small flowers are borne on slender spikes within inflorescences up to 12 cm long. Fruit are small, compressed,...
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Key Resource1983-01-01 Amaranth [Amaranthus hypochondriacus, A. cruentus (grain type) & A. tricolor (vegetable type)] is an herbaceous annual with upright growth habit, cultivated for both its seeds which are used as a grain and its leaves which are used as a vegetable or green. Both leaves and seeds contain...
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2009-04-01 This article is from ECHO Asia Note #1 Based on the experiences of CRWRC and its collaborating partnering organizations in East Africa, the introduction of grain and vegetable amaranths shows real potential for the highlands of Southeast Asia. Grain amaranth should be seen and managed as a high...
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1996-10-19 Take a Lesson from the Deer A Perspective on Nutritional Limitations of Amaranth Toxic Plants Consumed by Goats May Affect Humans Who Drink Their Milk Can Peach Pits be Used as Food? Do Not Eat Sprouted Sorghum Is Velvet Bean Safe to Eat? New Information on the Toxic Substance in Velvet Beans...
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2020-04-14 Have you ever wondered about the long-term impact of a project with which you were involved? Wouldn’t it be nice to know whether changes in a community lasted after an official program ended? Do you wish you knew what worked and what did not, so you could adjust for a more effective program next...
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2006-04-20 This exceptionally nutritious, high protein grain, that requires less rainfall than corn, has potential as a staple for the general population plus seems to offer special value in managing diseases such as HIV/AIDS.The Amaranth family contains more than 60 species (most of them wild) and...
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Session: World Renew began promoting amaranth as a drought resistant, nutritious crop in 1999. It has been adopted by farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, but has found highest adoption in Western Kenya. There it has had both a nutritional and commercial impact. Presenter: Thomas Post is an...
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Session:Africa has the capacity to feed its children affordably and cost effectively if its vast resources are well harnessed and developed bringing and end to the continents constant food shortages and the shameful food handouts from other continents which do not enjoy the same kind of resources...
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Abstract, UNAM , 2016 In Mexico, obesity and malnutrition have become a severe public health problem. As a result, a return to nutritional surplus crops, such as amaranth, has emerged as an alternative to improve the population’s diet and mitigate malnutrition-related problems in Mexico....
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2018-11-13 Based on ten years of experience, I will share how Puente a la Salud Comunitaria (Bridges to Community Health) has utilized a participatory approach to engage more than 30 communities in the adoption of amaranth and the promotion of food sovereignty. It is worth noting that the region suffers...
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2018-07-27 This is the fascinating story of amaranth, a crop from the ancient past that is being resurrected as a modern, nutritious, gluten-free food. First used over 6,000 years ago, amaranth reached its peak of popularity in the time of the Aztec empire in the early 1500s. After the arrival of Cortez and...
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2018-08-07 Session: World Renew began promoting amaranth as a drought resistant, nutritious crop in 1999. It has been adopted by farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, but has found highest adoption in Western Kenya. There it has had both a nutritional and commercial impact. Presenter : Thomas Post is an...
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Based on ten years of experience, I will share how Puente a la Salud Comunitaria (Bridges to Community Health) has utilized a participatory approach to engage more than 30 communities in the adoption of amaranth and the promotion of food sovereignty. It is worth noting that the region suffers...
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This group pageexists so that individuals involved in Amarantharound the world can connect. We encourage you to share the challenges you face in yourendeavors, discuss lessons and techniques learned through your experiences, and share your story!
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2018-07-12 This video tells the story of Grain Amaranth - its growth and use. In addition, here is alinktoa video, filmed in Uganda in 2010----with testimonials by people living with AIDS. Their testimonials have also been validated by at least one controlled health study in Kenya.
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2018-08-07 Session: Africa has the capacity to feed its children affordably and cost effectively if its vast resources are well harnessed and developed bringing and end to the continents constant food shortages and the shameful food handouts from other continents which do not enjoy the same kind of...
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2017-03-13 Scientists warn that global fish stocks are on the verge of collapse due to the effects of climate change and overfishing, fueling concerns of increased malnutrition. This not only translates into less fish for human consumption but, ironically, impacts aquaculture as commercial fish feed...
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The World Vegetable Center, as the name implies, focuses on vegetables to reduce poverty and malnutrition. Their website has numerous, helpful resources and publications. Among them are videos on how to save vegetable seed. They cover amaranth, eggplant, nightshade (see EDN 103), pumpkin and...
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The Amaranth Institute, a non-profit organization, includes individuals, partnerships, firms corporations or associations who deal, in whole or part, with the growing, importation, processing, grinding and distribution of amaranth seeds, vegetable amaranth and amaranth processed products. Members...
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All over the world local varieties of fruit, vegetables and grain are grown. Many are seemingly forgotten or are underutilized despite having outstanding nutritional or taste qualities. Some have good commercial potential and could be an excellent cash crop for a smallscale or family farmers,...
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Knowing the correct procedure for saving seed is a valuable skill for small-scale vegetable farmers. Saving seed allows farmers to: save money on inputs maintain local landraces and varieties build a local source of seed in areas lacking access to seed distributors exchange seed with fellow...
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2018-07-16 This 2010 video presents the stories of Ugandans who have benefited from the promotion of grain amaranth for its nutritive value in combatting the symptoms of HIV/AIDS.
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2015-10-06
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INTEGRATED APPROACH Developing a Model for a Sustainable Food System Rural family farmers work hard to produce half of the world's food, yet they make up 75% of the world's poor (FAO, 2014). We focus on the farming, consumption, and commercialization ofamaranth, a highly nutritious cereal crop...
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2015-11-17 This workshop will give participants an opportunity to learn more from a evaluation done six years after finishing a 10-year promotion of amaranth initiative that World Renew spearheaded in East Africa through their partnerships, especially in Kenya and Uganda. It will go over the scope, purpose,...
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2018-08-07 Session: In the Tanzanian population occupational context, the majority (80%) experience food insecurity and poverty, and malnutrition is a phenomenon that has for a long time remained the main cause of child mortality, stunting and the most important impediment to further economic growth of the...
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2018-08-08 Session: CADS and its partners have adopted approaches such as Demonstration Platform for Agricultural Research and Technology and mainstreaming nutrition for amaranth production. To date, CADS expanded amaranth production to a total of 13 districts. Promotional activities such as product fairs,...
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2015-03-26 There are perennial vegetables that are quite resilient and also highly nutritious. These vegetables can significantly improve diet, increase the body’s ability to capture the value of foods, and be incorporated into common foods. This presentation will discuss producing and using Chaya, Katuk,...
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2018-08-08 Session: The session will first provide an overview of WorldVeg’s efforts in using traditional African vegetables in the region, based on its collection in Arusha, Tanzania, the largest in Africa. The overview will single out amaranth as well as traditional vegetables useful in drylands. Second,...
- Amaranthus is a herbaceous, annual upright and fast growing plant in the Amaranthuceae family. It consists of about 60-70 different species spread all over the world in temperate, sub-tropical and tropical climates. Grain amaranth (A. hypochondriucus and A, creuntus) is an early maturing, drought...
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A crop indigenous to Africa,amaranthis highly versatile—it grows easily and prolifically in the humid tropics, survives in high altitudes and is a well-known “drought crop” that thrives in hot and dry weather. In Uganda, there are over 60 varieties of amaranths (locally known as dodo) but most of...
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Why grow Amaranthus crop: It requires less input to grow and can be grown by the rural poor It is easily harvested It is early maturing producing a lot of seeds/grains Highly tolerant to drought Highly nutritive with high quality proteins (lysine and methionine) and high levels of vitamins and...
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The seeding rate is the weight of the seed planted per unit area of land for any crop. Typical seeding rates range from a few pounds per acre to over 100 lbs/acre. The crop yield is the weight of the produce from a harvested crop. In many cases, the produce is itself a seed that can be replanted....
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Edible parts -Leaves, Seeds, Vegetable An annual plant which can be 2 m high and 45 cm across. The stems are angular and it can have a single stem or be branched. It is often limp in the upper parts. Plants are hairy at first but become smooth. Often they are tinged purple. Leaves are 2-4 cm long...
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Horticulturae2022,8(3), 239;https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8030239 Received: 5 December 2021/Revised: 26 January 2022/Accepted: 30 January 2022/Published: 10 March 2022 Abstract Leafy vegetables promote reparation of energy loss due to oxidative stress, and they have the potential to...
- Abstract: Sarcocornia A. J. Scott is a halophytic edible succulent plant belonging to theAmaranthacea family. To date, the genus includes 28 species distributed worldwide in salineenvironments, usuall salt marshes. Sarcocornia (Scott) is similar to Salicornia (L.), which has arecognized...
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2006-01-01 Amaranth produces a nutritious grain which is very versatile as a food ingredient. This booklet is a farmers' manual in regards to amaranthus.