Meet the purple super corn from Peru that prevents cancer and reduces cholesterol

Variety 601 of this Andean grain was developed by specialists from the INIA of Cajamarca

In the future, purple corn will be a trend among the most required products to prevent types of cancer, in addition to reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol. Among the varieties of this unique Andean grain there is a special one, the INIA 601 variety, developed by specialists from the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) of Cajamarca.

It took 13 years of research to discover its properties and health benefits. It is a genetically improved product with great potential in pigmentation, anthocyanin and antioxidants.

During the research phase, INIA 601 was presented in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. And the entrepreneurs showed interest in acquiring this unique product in the world, due to the importance of its properties for health and for the cosmetics industry, as it has a better pigmentation in which not only the grain and gopher are used, but also the purple belly and beard.

Field work

The agronomist Alicia Medina Hoyos, leader of the INIA Cajamarca research team, has been researching starchy corn for 27 years. 3 years ago, Medina won a contest with INIA to access funds from the World Bank (WB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for 360 thousand soles, to develop the project and confirm the performance of purple corn.

Six varieties were evaluated in seven altitudinal floors during three campaigns in three years, and corn from Ayacucho, from the National Agrarian University La Molina, the National University of Cajamarca, from Canta, and two other varieties from INIA (one experimental and one commercial, INIA 601).

During the three years of research (2017-2019) - carried out in plots of producers in Ichocán, in the Cajamarca province of San Marcos - it was concluded that of the six varieties used in the experimental design, INIA 601 was the best.

The research was developed in seven villages in Ichocán, with seven trials each year and the result is that the improved variety, INIA 601, is superior to all, with a better yield, obtaining more than five tons per hectare on average.

Special features

The content of natural pigment or anthocyanin, the most important in purple corn, is normally concentrated in the gopher or crown, while the grain contains anthocyanin only in the second layer and the rest is starch (white).
In this variety all the product, from the gopher, beard grain and panca, is purple; that is, everything is used and that makes the difference with the other varieties.

Normally, the gopher and grain are boiled to obtain the soda or chicha morada, but in this case the essence is also obtained by boiling the pan.

Meet the purple super corn from Peru that prevents cancer and reduces cholesterol
Variety 601 of this Andean grain was developed by specialists from the INIA of Cajamarca
In the future, purple corn will be a trend among the most required products to prevent types of cancer, in addition to reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol. Among the varieties of this unique Andean grain there is a special one, the INIA 601 variety, developed by specialists from the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) of Cajamarca. ANDINA
In the future, purple corn will be a trend among the most required products to prevent types of cancer, in addition to reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol. Among the varieties of this unique Andean grain there is a special one, the INIA 601 variety, developed by specialists from the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) of Cajamarca. ANDINA

In the future, purple corn will be a trend among the most required products to prevent types of cancer, in addition to reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol. Among the varieties of this unique Andean grain there is a special one, the INIA 601 variety, developed by specialists from the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) of Cajamarca.

It took 13 years of research to discover its properties and health benefits. It is a genetically improved product with great potential in pigmentation, anthocyanin and antioxidants.

During the research phase, INIA 601 was presented in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. And the entrepreneurs showed interest in acquiring this unique product in the world, due to the importance of its properties for health and for the cosmetics industry, as it has a better pigmentation in which not only the grain and gopher are used, but also the purple belly and beard.

Field work

The agronomist Alicia Medina Hoyos, leader of the INIA Cajamarca research team, has been researching starchy corn for 27 years. 3 years ago, Medina won a contest with INIA to access funds from the World Bank (WB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for 360 thousand soles, to develop the project and confirm the performance of purple corn.

Six varieties were evaluated in seven altitudinal floors during three campaigns in three years, and corn from Ayacucho, from the National Agrarian University La Molina, the National University of Cajamarca, from Canta, and two other varieties from INIA (one experimental and one commercial, INIA 601).

During the three years of research (2017-2019) - carried out in plots of producers in Ichocán, in the Cajamarca province of San Marcos - it was concluded that of the six varieties used in the experimental design, INIA 601 was the best.

"The research was developed in seven villages in Ichocán, with seven trials each year and the result is that the improved variety, INIA 601, is superior to all, with a better yield by obtaining more than five tons per hectare on average," he said. the specialist.

Special features

The content of natural pigment or anthocyanin, the most important in purple corn, is normally concentrated in the gopher or crown, while the grain contains anthocyanin only in the second layer and the rest is starch (white).
In this variety all the product, from the gopher, beard grain and panca, is purple; that is, everything is used and that makes the difference with the other varieties.

"Normally the gopher and the grain are boiled to obtain the soda or chicha morada, but in this case the essence is also obtained by boiling the pan," said Medina.

INIA 601 production

Farmers` associations from various provinces of Cajamarca have begun to purchase INIA 601 seed at a cost of 10 soles per kilogram, to produce more purple corn.

The provinces of Hualgayoc, Cutervo, Chota, Contumazá, Cajabamba, Cajamarca, San Marcos, San Pablo and San Miguel have cultivated 130 hectares of purple corn. Its production per hectare is greater than five tons. The fruits of this campaign will be obtained between April and May 2020.

In addition to Cajamarca, the regions of La Libertad, Áncash and Amazonas have acquired seed. The improved variety of INIA 601 is the result of two populations: Huaraz and Cajabamba, carrying out the genetic improvement of the product, obtaining a variety with a high concentration of pigmentation and antioxidants.

Alicia Medina points out that the investigation took 10 years and was in charge of INIA engineers and technicians and 3 more years to determine the performance and color, with financing from the IDB and the World Bank.