Egypt identifies chia, amaranth and quinoa as oilseed alternatives to enhance domestic production

A recent Egyptian scientific study has identified chia, amaranth, and quinoa as promising non-traditional oilseed crops that could significantly enhance Egypt’s domestic edible oil production and reduce its near-total dependence on imports.

The research highlights the agronomic potential of these crops across varied climatic zones and their contribution to national food security. This is reported by Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS.

Data show that Egypt currently produces only 2 percent of its edible oil needs locally, with the remaining 98 percent fulfilled through imports. The study proposes the strategic integration of alternative oilseed crops as a sustainable solution to close this critical production gap.

Nutritional analyses revealed that chia grown in Giza contained the highest fixed oil content at 29.55 percent, while seeds from Sharqeya had elevated levels of essential fatty acids. These attributes enhance both the oil quality and nutritional value of the crops. Additionally, chia and quinoa from Minya recorded the highest carbohydrate and nitrogen content, while amaranth from Sharqeya showed a notable carbohydrate level of 66.5 percent.