A study by Pennsylvania State University has discovered that the Carolina Azolla variety is more suitable for human consumption compared to other strains grown in Asia and Africa for livestock feed. The Carolina strain has a lower phenolic content, which can be further reduced by cooking, and offers a moderate protein and high mineral content. The plant, characterized by a crunchy texture and neutral flavor, grows rapidly, making it a potential food resource during natural disasters and for regular consumption in small farms and low-income areas.
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Original content
Scientists at Pennsylvania State University report that the Carolina Azolla variety is a more digestible and nutritious food for humans than Azolla varieties that grow in the wild and are also grown in Asia and Africa for livestock feed. The study, led by Daniel Winstead, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Michael Jacobson, professor of ecosystem sciences and management, and Francesco Di Gioia, assistant professor of vegetable crops, is part of a larger interdisciplinary research project called “Food Resilience in the Face of Catastrophic Global Events.” “Different species of Azolla have been used around the world for several thousand years as livestock feed and as ‘green manure’ to fertilize crops due to the plant’s ability to fix nitrogen,” Jacobson said. - Azolla's use for human consumption was thought to be limited due to its high total polyphenol content, which impairs its digestibility. But this study shows that the phenolic content of the Carolina strain is much lower, and ...
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