Flax bio-village concept

Abstract

Today, it is very well established that omega-3 deficiency in modern man’s diet is a major contributing factor for the phenomenal rise in non-communicable diseases, for both its incidences, and severity. Bring back omega-3 fatty acid into food chain has been a global cry. Based on the Danish observation that Eskimos have very low incidences of cardiovascular disease, who eat lot of fish fat rich in omega-3 long-chain fatty acids, fish consumption and fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) became popular as cardioprotective measure. However, a recent study that has shown a specific desaturase mutation to suit their high-fish-fat diet has casted doubt as to whether the same is applicable to rest of the population taking high carbohydrate diet. It has to be appreciated that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), obtainable from plant source, is the primary essential fatty acid from which EPA and DHA can be derived in our body. ALA is the only form of omega-3 fatty acid available to vegetarians. Flax seed (also called linseed) is the richest vegetarian, sustainable source of omega-3 fatty acid, and fish source is fast dwindling. However, resourcing ALA from linseed had several challenges. We developed a unique innovative concept called “Flax Bio-village” to deal with these challenges. ALA in India linseed is a neglected crop. To increase the area under production, linseed agriculture had to be made lucrative to the farmer by providing high-yielding variety and also good price to lure him to linseed agriculture. Linseed is not readily edible and does contain certain anti-nutrients, and technology is needed to ensure that human food is enriched with omega-3 resourced from linseed devoid of anti-nutrients. ALA is notoriously unstable and becomes rancid very fast. Omega-3 oil had to be cold press extracted under non-oxidizing conditions and stabilized in emulsion to enrich food products. The leftover cake is processed to develop omega-3-enriched feed mixes (EFMs) that when fed to layer and broiler birds can give omega eggs or omega-3 chicken, respectively. Omega-3 emulsion serves as omega-3 fortifier to enrich dairy products including milk. Flax Bio-village Concept (FBC) therefore successfully brings about backward linkage with the farmer and forward linkage with consumer. Concept constitutes finest example of convergence of agriculture to health and wealth. Concept has been validated, but needs huge support and endorsement of industries, public and private sectors to reap the full benefits, and omega-3 nutritional security and “health for all.”