Discover the benefits of cassava, an important crop that offers nutritional, culinary, economic, industrial, and environmental benefits.
From food and animal feed to biofuel and medicine, cassava is a valuable resource with a wide range of applications along its value chain.
Its tubers are a rich source of essential nutrients, making it an excellent food source for both humans and animals.
Key takeaway on the yuca benefits
- Cassava is a versatile crop with numerous benefits, including nutritional, culinary, economic, industrial, and environmental advantages.
- It is a rich source of nutrients, making it an excellent food source for both humans and animals.
- Cassava has significant economic and environmental benefits, including improving food security, supporting local economies, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
What are the benefits of cassava?
Cassava offers numerous benefits across various industries, including nutritional, culinary, economic, industrial, and environmental. It is a source of energy for both humans and animals.
Let’s explain in detail:
Health Benefits of Cassava
Cassava is an important source of carbohydrates, providing approximately 40 grams per 100 grams of cooked cassava.
It also contains a moderate amount of fiber, with 2 grams per serving. Additionally, cassava is a good source of vitamins and minerals.
The root of yuca is relatively low in protein, with less than 2 grams per 1/2 cup serving, but cassava leaves are edible and a good source of protein.
Yuca also contains resistant starch, which can help improve gut health by feeding beneficial gut bacteria and weight loss.
Additionally, it has antioxidants and copper, which can improve energy production and iron metabolism.
Related: Cassava Research and Improvement
Culinary Benefits of Cassava
Apart from being a staple food in some developing countries. There are a lot of manioc recipes related to cassava around the world.
Cassava can be boiled, fried, or baked and used as a side dish or in stews and soups. Cassava flour is used to make breads, cakes, and tapioca.
In South America, the pulp is grated, squeezed, and cooked into pies, cakes, or porridge.
Fufu, a popular West African dish, is made by pounding boiled or steamed cassava into fufu or akpu, a sticky cassava meal and eaten with soups.
Farina, common in South America and the West Indies, is made by pressing, sieving, and roasting cassava pulp into a cereal.
Cassava leaves can also be eaten, often as an ingredient in soups and stews in Central Africa.
Cassava is also used to produce alcoholic beverages like kasiri in South America and tapioca pudding.
Here is more on the culinary benefits of cassava.
Economic Benefits of Cassava
Certainly, yuca has many economic benefits as can be seen in cassava-producing regions around the world.
It is a highly productive crop that can be processed into various products, including starch, flour, ethanol, and animal feed.
Another yuca benefit is its starch content. Cassava starch has a high international demand and can be sold at a higher price than raw cassava, providing a substantial economic boost.
Cassava can also be used to generate revenue through exports, with Nigeria potentially earning $427 million from domestic value-addition and $2.98 billion in exports.
The Yuca plant also supports local industries, such as food processing and manufacturing, and can create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
By leveraging cassava farming and processing, countries like Nigeria can unlock substantial economic benefits and reduce poverty.
Check out our post on the economic benefits of cassava.
Industrial and Commercial Applications of Cassava
Another yuca benefit is of course that it has many industrial and commercial applications. Some of these include starch which is used in the food, textile, pharmaceutical, paper and biofuel industries.
Cassava starch is also used to make adhesives, coatings, and other chemical products.
Cassava also has a place in the production of bioethanol and organic acids.
The starch from cassava is capable of enzymic hydrolysis converting into glucose and fermented by microorganisms which makes it an important raw material for various industries.
Here is a dedicated article on the industrial application of cassava.
Related: Interaction of Cassava and Pregnancy
Animal Feed Benefits of Cassava
Cassava offers several benefits as an animal feed ingredient.
Cassava can be used to produce a range of feed fractions, including root meal, peels, and leaves, which provide energy, protein, and minerals.
It can replace maize in diets for cattle, small herbivores, and swine, and can be used up to 100% in aquaculture diets.
Cassava-based feeds require specific nutrient balancing but offer local alternatives with the potential for improved nutritional value, lower feed costs, and increased profitability.
See more on cassava for animal feeds.
Medicinal Uses of Cassava
Cassava offers several medicinal uses and benefits. It can be used to speed up wound healing by applying a paste made from crushed cassava leaves and aloe vera gel to the wound.
Cassava leaves can also be used to make a natural face mask for skincare benefits.
As mentioned above, the tuberous vegetable is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which helps boost immunity and collagen synthesis.
Cassava can also help manage blood sugar levels, improve digestion, and lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Also, it contains antioxidants that promote overall wellness and may even help lower the risk of cancer.
More on cassava in medicine.
Environmental Benefits of Yuca
Cassava offers several environmental benefits. Because it is a perennial crop, it can help restore degraded land, which in turn can lower greenhouse gas emissions, alleviate hunger, and reduce poverty.
Yuca can thrive in poor soils and withstand increasing temperatures, making it an ideal crop for tropical regions.
By growing cassava on abandoned agricultural or pasture land, farmers can revive soils for other income-generating crops, promoting sustainable land use and reducing deforestation.
Also, cassava is capable of absorbing heavy metals from the soil, mitigating contamination in cocoa production and supporting sustainable agriculture practices.
See the impact of cassava on the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Benefits of Cassava
What are the environmental benefits of cassava?
Cassava can restore degraded land, lower greenhouse gas emissions, alleviate hunger, and reduce poverty by promoting sustainable land use and agriculture practices.
How does cassava contribute to food security?
Cassava research for development approaches has contributed to measurable gains in area planted to cassava, cassava yields, and household calorie intake, improving food security for smallholder farmers.
What are the economic benefits of cassava?
Cassava can generate significant economic benefits through starch production, exports, and local industries, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth in regions where it is grown.
What are the cultural benefits of cassava?
Cassava is a culturally significant crop in many societies, used in traditional medicine, rituals, and ceremonies, symbolizing fertility, prosperity, and good fortune, and supporting local communities.
What does cassava do to your body?
Cassava helps manage blood sugar levels, improves digestion, and supports gut health due to its high content of resistant starch and fiber.
Is cassava good for the kidneys?
Yes, cassava leaf extract can repair kidney damage caused by gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice, reducing serum creatinine levels and improving histopathological scores.
Is cassava healthier than potatoes?
While both are starchy vegetables, cassava is higher in vitamin C, copper, and resistant starch, which may offer additional health benefits compared to potatoes.
Final Word from Cassava Pathway
Cassava aka yuca, has numerous benefits. From its role in sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation to its potential health benefits and cultural significance, cassava is a valuable resource that deserves further exploration and development.
By embracing the benefits of cassava, we can improve the lives of small-scale farmers, promote sustainable agriculture practices, and improve global food security.
Citations:
https://www.tuasaude.com/en/cassava
https://myserenitykids.com/blogs/news/cassava-root-benefits-nutritional-facts-and-more
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323756
https://www.verywellfit.com/cassava-nutrition-facts-calories-carbs-and-health-benefits-4177847
Chimeremeze Emeh is an agribusiness consultant and entrepreneur with extensive knowledge of the cassava value chain in Africa. He has worked with farmers, processors, and policymakers to enhance efficiency and profitability. Emeh is passionate about using technology to drive sustainable development in the cassava industry. He has authored publications on the cassava value chain and is a sought-after speaker. Emeh founded a successful cassava processing enterprise.