Protein rich breadfruit is one of the most dynamic and versatile food source as it can be edible at any point of its growth anytime. While still young and green it tastes similar to an artichoke, halfway into its maturity it becomes starchy and has similar properties with a potato and when ripe, can be eaten as a sweet treat.
Protein rich breadfruit can be abundant in the tropics
A staple food in the tropics, especially in Hawaii and Tahiti, natives often label it as the tree potato, but the best part is that it contains large amounts of high quality protein. It is also a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals that packs a lot of punch when prepared similar to potatoes boiled, steamed or baked.
This is why the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden is cultivating it to be able to come up with means to mass produce it for tropical countries. Aside from being an answer to food scarcity, farmers could even cultivate it as a steady food source it could also augment their incomes.
A plethora of benefits
Ethnobotanist Diane Ragone, who heads the Breadfruit Institute, says that breadfruit has been found to offer a lot of advantages when compared to some staples. Aside from its rapid growth capacity, is not labour-intensive and requires less maintenance like fertilizer and pesticides.
Each tree can wiled no less than 250 fruits each year and can feed a family for many years.
Pacific islanders historically were using breadfruit as a staple food like rice and corn, but later on were abandoned in favour of other food groups that immersed into their cultures either through colonization or other cultural influences.
Protein and nutrient-rich varieties
Partnering with the University of British Columbia, Ragone and her research counterpart Susan Murch, studied the protein content of some 49 varieties to identify one that could be potentially mass-produced. They found one called the Ma’afala which contained a high amount of essential amino acids that surpassed soybeans.
Ragone said they would soon hope to see good headway into their research but as early as now, they are actively conducting active educational campaigns to integrate breadfruit into the mainstream diet for people living in the tropics where it can be commonly bred and cultivated.
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