Beans from the Amazon have up to 27% protein and may gain an origin seal

An unprecedented study conducted in the Juruá Valley, in Acre, revealed that the white cowpea beans, costela-de-vaca, and manteiguinha possess protein levels of up to 27%, well above the global average and the 20% recorded in varieties from other regions of Brazil. The discovery is part of the doctoral thesis "Nutritional quality and storage of Juruá beans in Acre," developed by Professor Guiomar Almeida Sousa from the Federal Institute of Acre (Ifac), under the guidance of researcher Amauri Siviero from Embrapa Acre. The analyses were carried out in the Bromatology laboratory of Embrapa Acre and showed that the two varieties with the highest protein index are cultivated by family farmers who still use traditional agricultural systems. Most of the plantations occur on the riverbanks during the dry season. In addition to the high protein content, the study also measured the presence of anthocyanins, natural antioxidant substances that help combat cellular aging and prevent diseases ...