Exploring the potential for Amaranth (Amaranthus spp) (grain and leaves) in mainstream South African diets
| dc.contributor.advisor | Molotsi, Annelin H. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Pereira, Laura M. (Laura Maureen), 1985- | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Mabhaudhi, T. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Akinola, Racheal | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Agricultural Economics. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-05-18T09:26:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-05-18T09:26:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-05 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. | |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH SUMMARY : Food insecurity and hunger continue to be a global challenge, as many countries remain food insecure and vulnerable to food insecurity. South Africa, despite being classified as food secure, has 26 % of its population experiencing hunger. As a means of addressing food insecurity, there is a renewed focus on indigenous and traditional food crops (ITFCs) and the positive impact on the sustainability of our food and agricultural systems. Amaranth is one of such traditional food crops that has been identified for its exceptional nutritional value and widespread benefits as a sustainable and source of food, which suggests that its promotion into everyday diets can further contribute to households’ food supply and improve household food security. A critical question then arises, does amaranth (grain and leaves) have the potential to be mainstreamed in South Africa’s food system in order to support sustainable food and nutrition security? Thus, this study has three objectives; (i) to explore the knowledge, awareness, perception and consumption patterns of amaranth (ii) explore the amaranth market and the accessibility to amaranth and its products (ii) to determine the palatability and acceptance of a meal which has been enriched with amaranth. To achieve the first and second objectives, a mixed method non-experimental research approach consisting of individual interviews (n=68) and focus group discussions (n=45) were carried out to explore the knowledge, perception, farming and the consumption of amaranth, which was followed by a desktop research to identify amaranth market stakeholders across the country. One hundred and eight (108) individuals from four (4) communities in Kwazulu Natal; Swayimane, Msinga, Umbumbuly and Nhlazuka participated in the interviews and focus group discussions. For the second objective, a sensory evaluation was carried out to determine the likability of four porridge samples enriched with different amaranth concentrations (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) and a 100% pure maize porridge sample as the control. Nineteen (19) participants from Swayimane community were recruited as panelists and were required to taste each sample and assess its sensory characteristics using a sensory evaluation questionnaire. Results from the qualitative study show that there is a positive perception about amaranth and existing indigenous knowledge; significant knowledge gaps were identified, such as the lack of knowledge on how to cultivate amaranth, poor knowledge about the utilization/consumption of the grain. The current consumption of amaranth is mostly limited to the leaves only, and the market for it is underdeveloped, although there are several opportunities for improvement. Results from the sensory evaluation show that porridge samples with higher amaranth concentrations (from 50% and above) had higher acceptability scores than 25% amaranth and pure (100%) maize porridge samples. Overall, this study shows that both amaranth leaves and grains can break into the mainstream market as nutritious leafy vegetables and a versatile (pseudo)grain with the right recipes and processing techniques. Provided that they are affordable and promoted with information regarding the origin, sustainability and nutrition, consumers would be willing to cultivate and/or purchase and aid adoption into everyday diets. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Voedselonsekerheid en honger is steeds 'n wêreldwye uitdaging, aangesien baie lande voedselonsekerheid het en kwesbaar bly vir dit. Suid-Afrika, ten spyte daarvan dat dit as voedselkilwer geklassifiseer is, het 26 % van sy bevolking honger ervaar. As 'n manier om voedselonsekerheid aan te spreek, is daar 'n hernude fokus op inheemse en tradisionele voedselgewasse (ITFC's) en die positiewe impak op die volhoubaarheid van ons voedsel- en landboustelsels. Amaranth is een van sulke tradisionele voedselgewasse wat geïdentifiseer is vir sy uitsonderlike voedingswaarde en wydverspreide voordele as 'n volhoubare bron van voedsel, wat daarop dui dat die bevordering daarvan in alledaagse diëte verder kan bydra tot huishoudings se voedselvoorsiening en huishoudelike voedselsekerheid. 'n Kritieke vraag ontstaan dan, het amaranth (graan en blare) die potensiaal om in Suid-Afrika se voedselstelsel hoofstroom te wees ten einde volhoubare voedsel- en voedingsekerheid te ondersteun? Hierdie studie het dus drie doelwitte; (i) om die kennis, bewustheid, persepsie en verbruikspatrone van amaranth (ii) die amaranth mark te ondersoek en die toeganklikheid tot amaranth en sy produkte (ii) om die smaaklikheid en aanvaarding van 'n maaltyd wat met amaranth verryk is, te bepaal. Om die eerste en tweede doelwitte te bereik, 'n gemengde metode nie-eksperimentele navorsingsbenadering bestaande uit individuele onderhoude (n = 68) en fokusgroepbesprekings (n = 45) is uitgevoer om die kennis, persepsie, boerderyendie verbruik van amaranth te verken , wat gevolg is deur 'n lessenaarnavorsing om amaranth markbelanghebbendes regoor die land te identifiseer. Een honderd en agt (108) individue uit vier (4) gemeenskappe in Kwazulu Natal; Swayimane, Msinga, Umbumbuly en Nhlazuka het aan die onderhoude en fokusgroepbesprekings deelgeneem. Vir die tweede doelwit is 'n sensoriese evaluering uitgevoer om die smaak van vier papmonsters te bepaal wat met verskillende amaranth-konsentrasies verryk is (100%, 75%, 50% en 25%) en 'n 100% suiwer mieliepapmonster as die kontrole. Negentien (19) deelnemers van Swayimane gemeenskap is gewerf as paneellede, elke monster was geproe en evalueer asook die sensoriese eienskappe met behulp van 'n sensoriese evaluering vraelys. Resultate van die kwalitatiewe studie toon dat daar 'n positiewe persepsie oor amaranth en bestaande inheemse kennis is; beduidende kennisgapings is geïdentifiseer, soos die gebrek aan kennis oor hoe om amaranth te kweek, swak kennis oor die benutting/verbruik van die graan. Die huidige verbruik van amaranth is meestal slegs beperk tot die blare, en die mark daarvoor is onderontwikkeld, hoewel daar verskeie geleenthede vir verbetering is. Resultate van die sensoriese evaluering toon dat papmonsters met hoër amaranth konsentrasies (van 50% en hoër) het hoër aanvaarbaarheidstellings aswat 25% amaranth en suiwer (100%) mieliepapmonsters. Algehele, hierdie studie toon dat beide amaranth blare en korrels kan breek word in die hoofstroom mark as voedsame blaargroentes en 'n veelsydige (pseudo) graan met die regte resepte en verwerking tegnieke. Met dien verstande dat dit bekostigbaar is en bevorder word met inligting oor die oorsprong, volhoubaarheid en voedingswaarde, sal verbruikers meer bereid wees om dit te kweek en deel maak van alledaagse diëte. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Masters | |
| dc.format.extent | xi, 109 pages ; illustrations, includes annexures | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110466 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | |
| dc.subject | Amaranthaceae -- Nutritional aspects -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Food security -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Indigenous peoples -- Food -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Indigenous peoples -- Nutrition -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Agricultural systems -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Hunger | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | |
| dc.title | Exploring the potential for Amaranth (Amaranthus spp) (grain and leaves) in mainstream South African diets | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |