adminCASSAVA is crucial to food security for millions of Africans, and now the shrub’s potential for industrial purposes is being considered. The versatile crop is used in several products including flour, paper, textiles, food additives and animal feed. “The main thrust of cassava in SA is for industrial purposes and the use of biotechnology to improve the crop for agro-processing,” says Chrissie Rey, a Wits University professor at the school of molecular and cell biology, who has been studying the shrub since the 1980s. “Other countries have always been interested in cassava for food security, but all cassava-growing countries are getting interested in its industrial potential.” Rey says she studies the plant because its roots are a valuable source of starch.
“The need for root-based starch will rise in the next 50 years. Cassava is a potentially valuable crop and the South African government is interested in exploring that potential for small-scale and commercial farmers,” she says.
The crop is also used to produce bio-ethanol, which is used in small stoves instead of paraffin. The bio-ethanol produced from cassava is cleaner for the environment, says Rey. Cassava is also used to make beer. SABMiller has two cassava beer brands – Impala in Mozambique and Eagle in Ghana.
In SA, cassava grows in KwaZulu-Natal, the northern part of Limpopo and in Mpumalanga. Although it is not consumed as food in SA, it has potential applications in the food industry.
Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry recognised cassava as a commodity and registered the Cassava Industry Association with the Southern African Development Community, which is now drafting a five-year strategic plan for the crop.
“Now that it is an official commodity, people who want to start up businesses with cassava can take proposals to the Technical Innovation Agency or the department. The government now may fund such endeavours because it is one of its priority projects,” says Rey. — Online.
Online Reporter