SUPERFOOD

Amaranth has an important story to tell.

  • Climate-resilient and densely nutritious, amaranth has a huge potential to support food sovereignty locally and around the world, and to serve as a strategy to adapt to climate change.
  • It provides a unique opportunity to learn about Indigenous knowledge and native plants.
  • It is a highly versatile crop – it grows prolifically and is well-known for its capacity to tolerate drastic weather changes.
  • Amaranth has been touted as “superfood” due to its unusually high protein, fiber, and iron content.
  • Its greens and seeds were an important staple of the Indigenous diet.
  • Its gluten-free properties give it a tremendous value-added potential.
THE AMARANTH INITIATIVE

The Amaranth Initiative brings people together to learn about the sustainable cultivation, cultural significance and culinary use of amaranth, and how to incorporate it into our daily lives.

AMARANTH IN GUATEMALA

ECOSOL supports the Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura (IMAP)’s work with enhancing food sovereignty in Guatemala by promoting the sustainable cultivation, processing, consumption, and commercialization of amaranth.

To do so, IMAP increases the availability of value-added products such as nutritional bars, flour, and a hot drink commonly known as atól.

IMAP has trained hundreds of men and women and has successfully implemented its Amaranth Project in rural communities around lake Atitlán.

AMARANTH IN CANADA

ECOSOL is implementing its Amaranth Initiative in Southern Ontario.

We offer training, seeds, and workshops on the cultural significance of amaranth, and how to grow, process, and cook with it.

In collaboration with Luna Mia Farm, we have successfully implemented a series of amaranth seed trials, in partnership with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO). The goal was to determine the best variety of amaranth for the region of Southern Ontario.

Read the report: