Amaranth as Nutrition-Rich and Climatic Resilient Crop: A Review

Malnutrition and climatic changes are the most significant issues nowadays. The present form of food is not acceptable and balanced nutrition. Besides, much food can be destroyed by climatic changes. There must be some crops that we can consider for future food security. There is a need to explore crops rich in nutrition that can survive in such climatic conditions. Some crops have such qualities that are considered super and functional foods. These foods have higher nutrition and are also rich in some phenolic compounds that are medicinally proven against a specific disease; that is the reason we call them super and functional food. Amaranthus is one of them. It has higher protein quality and quantity than our staple food, wheat, barley and maize. Some of the lines of amaranth report a protein content of more than 21%. It contains higher minerals and vitamins in it. The plant makes a beautiful landscape; because of this, it is mostly used for landscaping, but now many scientists are working on it considering this crop good not for beautification but for high nutrition and high tolerance against global climate changes. Amaranthus has the potential to survive in changing climatic conditions. It is resistant to drought, salinity and heavy metals as some studies confirm. This review comprises morphology, nutrition and climatic resilient properties of amaranth