AMARANTH AND TRADITIONAL CROPS: BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PROSPECTS FOR USE

Abstract

The article analyses the strategic importance of amaranth in the context of food security. Its unique agronomic, biochemical and nutritional characteristics are investigated, which make it a promising crop for solving global food system problems. The advantages of amaranth over traditional crops such as wheat, barley, rice, soybeans and chickpeas are highlighted, in particular, in terms of protein, fibre, protein content and resistance to adverse growing conditions. Ensuring food security is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, especially in the face of population growth, climate change and natural resource degradation. Traditional crops, such as wheat, rice, corn and soybeans, make up the bulk of people’s diets. However, their cultivation is accompanied by significant environmental costs, high dependence on natural conditions and high water requirements. In such conditions, there is a need to find alternative crops that can become reliable sources of nutrients and help reduce the burden on ecosystems. Amaranth, as a special crop, is attracting more and more attention due to its unique properties: high protein content with a full range of essential amino acids, ability to grow on poor soils and in drought conditions, and resistance to climate change and pests. Amaranth stands out as a special crop due to its ability to adapt to different conditions, its low water and soil requirements, and its high protein and mineral content. Its nutritional characteristics are comparable to other crops such as rice, wheat, barley, soybeans and chickpeas. However, amaranth has certain advantages, such as being gluten-free and high in lysine. This makes it attractive to many consumers, especially those looking for a healthy alternative to traditional grains and pulses. With its high nutritional value, drought tolerance and low water requirements, amaranth is a promising crop for growing in the face of climate change and in regions with limited water resources. Barley, in turn, is an important fodder and industrial crop, but requires more water and fertiliser. In the context of food security, amaranth can be a key product to provide protein and minerals in areas where other crops cannot survive.