In Africa and Latin America, the domestic market for cassava-based animal feed shows potential for growth. More than 30 percent of the cassava produced in Latin America is used for domestic animal feed, compared to less than 2 percent in Africa. Research in Cameroon has shown that poultry breeders could lower their production costs by 40 percent by incorporating cassava into their chicken feed. Asia also leads the way in the production of starches derived from cassava. Cassava starch has unique properties, such as its high viscosity and its resistance to freezing, which make it competitive with other industrial starches.
More research needs to be done on the development and marketing of cassava-based starches .
It's important for us to get the message out about the importance of cassava to millions and millions of families in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the contribution that cassava can make to the well-being of millions of cassava producers and processors. However, as Mr Porto makes clear it's not just the general public that needs to become more aware of the importance of cassava. Also donor agencies need to know more about ongoing development projects related to cassava so that they don't waste money duplicating their efforts. Although cassava roots are an excellent source of calories, they lack protein and vitamins. Cassava leaves, however, are rich in protein and vitamins A and B and can be an important part of a well-balanced, nutritious diet.