Top 5 environmental benefits of Aronia Melanocarpa (Nero Eggert variety)
Sustainability is a hot topic as issues such as food security, pollution, and climate change have become major concerns. Nowadays, more and more consumers have a better understanding and pay attention to the sustainability aspect of products they buy and consume. In this article, we’ll explain 5 key environmental benefits of Aronia melanocarpa.
Over the last years, there has been an increased awareness around sustainability, as issues such as food security, pollution, and climate change have become major concerns. As more and more consumers have a better understanding and care more about sustainability, they also tend to pay attention to which products they buy and consume.
Aronia berries are small dark fruits that are becoming increasingly popular amongst health-conscious consumers as they have excellent content in micronutrients and strong antioxidant properties.
Research around these berries suggests that they provide important health benefits to immune health, cardiovascular function, brain health, and anti-diabetic function.
Read more about the health benefits of Aronia berries
Apart from providing numerous health benefits, Aronia berries are also interesting from an environmental perspective, thanks to some unique characteristics of this plant.
This is particularly true for the variety called Nero Eggert, selected by BioActor to produce the active ingredient for brain health, namely Brainberry®.
Let’s find out why Aronia is considered a super berry not only for the health of consumers but also for the planet.
1. Aronia keeps the bees healthy and happy.
Many scientists have asserted that bees are not only one of the most important pollinators for food crops, but also for the existence of humanity. For that reason, it is critical to find ways that will ensure bees’ happiness.
Aronia melanocarpa is a plant with an incredibly extended flowering time, meaning that bees are provided with enough sugars and protein from the nectar and pollen. That lasts around two weeks more compared to other fruits, and in most cases, this is enough for their healthy growth and reproduction.
2. It’s naturally organic.
When thinking about sustainability, often the best route to take is the organic route, which involves far fewer pesticides added to the soil. This not only keeps the food natural, but also protects the soil from becoming overloaded with unnatural substances, which is essential for the long-term viability of any patch of farmland.
In Aronia melanocarpa plants, pests occur only rarely and in small quantities. In fact, Aronia is considered a strong and very resistant plant, and growers don’t need to use chemicals to control the growth when cultivating it.
3. Lower water consumption.
Another sustainable indicator in plantations is the usage of water that is required for growth. Much effort has been made to reduce the water footprint in agriculture, where 80% accounts for crop production. Thanks to its strong rooting system, Aronia plants can grow with very little water, even in poor soils.
Additionally, mature shrubs are resistant to weather anomalies. For example, it is resistant to frost, drought, as well as excess rainfall. This makes possible the cultivation of Aronia plants where it is difficult to grow other plants.
For example, the Aronia berries used to produce Brainberry® are cultivated on the icy plains of the Baltic region of Europe, where in winter is extremely cold.
4. Less land and higher yield.
As mentioned above, BioActor selected a unique variety of Aronia named Nero Eggert. What sets this variety apart from the rest is the ability of the plant to grow its branches in width rather than in height.
The main advantages of this characteristic are a higher yield, which means obtaining more fruits (and consuming less land), and more flowers to keep the bees happy!
Furthermore, the branches of these plants are more resistant and harder to break off, further reducing the possibility of contacting pests and diseases.
5. Reduced food loss.
It is estimated that global food production must increase by 60% by 2050 to meet the demands of the growing world population. Yet, more than one-third of the food produced today is lost or wasted.
While food waste means food that is wasted at the retail or consumer level, food loss refers to the decrease in edible food mass at the production, post-harvest, and processing stages of the food chain.
Aronia berries are durable fruits. This is important because it facilitates the storage and transport to processing facilities with minimal to no loss.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the environmental benefits of Aronia combined with its health effects on consumers make it a super berry. BioActor focuses on developing innovative plant-based ingredients that target healthy living and aging.
Feel free to contact BioActor via info@bioactor.com and visit www.brainberry.eu and www.bioactor.com to learn more about Brainberry® or click here to learn everything you need to know about Brainberry® and brain health.
