Indonesia: BRIN pushes cassava-based food diversification to prevent food crises

When we conduct (food) diversification from cassava, we also consider the potential health benefits of processed cassava products. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is encouraging the community to diversify cassava-based foods to reduce rice consumption in order to anticipate the threat of a global food crisis. "Apart from the many types and availability (of cassava), this tuber is a source of carbohydrates. Thus, the tuber can be a substitute for rice, which we have been using as our daily staple food," a researcher from BRIN's Research Center for Food Technology and Processing, Yuniar Khasanah, said in a statement issued on Tuesday. Considering the high consumption of rice and wheat in Indonesia, the diversification of cassava-based foods could reduce the use of and limit imports of the commodities, she informed. Furthermore, cassava is also considered to have a better nutritional composition and an easier cultivation process compared ...