Our approach will allow breeders to commercialize seeds much more rapidly than introgressing traits from E. ![]() guineensis) with higher nutritional qualities and specifically destined to cultivation by smallholders. Therefore, we will evaluate the quality and stability of the oil from more than 1000 accessions and to breed new genotypes of oil palm (E. However, no wide screen has been carried out to our knowledge. The contents of vitamin E and carotenoids also vary strongly between different varieties. Our approach is to investigate the variability within elite trees and wild accessions of oil palm for the following traits: content in provitamin A and vitamin E, lipase activity, and fat saturation level we already identified many low-lipase trees, and our preliminary results indicate that about 5-10% of elite trees contain less saturated fat in the oil than that of above-mentioned hybrids. oleifera) has been carried out to lower saturated fat but hybrids produce little oil and their production requires hand-pollination, which is not suitable for smallholders. guineensis) and its close relative, American palm (E. We aim at breeding varieties specifically designed to suit both African consumers and small planters. Presently, breeding programs aim exclusively at increasing the yield of oil palm, to produce refined oil primarily destined for food industry. Crude palm oil contains high amounts of provitamin A and vitamin E that are lost in refined oil. ![]() It is less stable than refined oil and frequently of poor quality, mostly due to poor processing practices linked to high lipase content of fruit mesocarp. The goal of the VITAPALM project is to identify genotypes with improved nutritional qualities by screening the palm oil fruits provided by partners in Ghana and CameroonĬrude palm oil, produced mostly by smallholders, has been an important part of West- African traditional diet for centuries. The aim of this project is to breed new genotypes of oil palm specifically destined to cultivation by smallholders, and that produce non-refined crude oil with improved qualities including provitamin A/vitamin E dietary supply, lower saturated fat and enhanced stability/shelf life. However, it degrades rapidly due to a high lipase activity and low oxidation stability. ![]() Eranet LEAP Agri - Eranet LEAP Agri Improving nutritional quality and stability of palm oil produced by African smallholders to fulfil African consumers needs – VITAPALM VITAPALM: Improving nutritional quality and stability of palm oil produced by African smallholders to fulfill African consumers' needsĬrude oil palm widely used by African people is a valuable source of provitamin A (carotenoids).
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