Food &Fertilizertechnology center

newsletter

december 2010

170

Responding to the challenge of agri-biotechnology capacity building in Asia ................................................................ 2

Evaluation and sustainable management of soil carbon sequestration in Asian countries ................................................................. 3

Turning waste into health benefitsImproved utilization of fishery by-products as potential nutraceuticals and functional foods.................................................................... 4

FFTC and KU sign MOU on agricultural technical partnership ......................................... 6

New publications ............................................................................................................. 8

Articles in this issue

HARVESTING, PRODUCTION and consumption of seafood is increasing due to its many proven health benefits, leading to abundance of by-products discarded annually, particularly in the Asian region. A better understanding of the potential

Nutraceuticals and functional foods from fishery by-products

values of processing by-products for a variety of applications has resulted in technological innovations for seafood wastes as nutraceuticals and functional foods. (page 4)

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Responding to the challenge of agri-biotechnology capacity building in Asia

MODERN BIOTECHNOlOGY, particularly its applications, has been making vital contributions and opportunities to agriculture, forestry and fisheries development globally. For many developed and developing countries, biotechnology has always been considered a powerful tool for research and ultimately for accelerating economic development. In particular, agricultural biotechnology has been at the forefront of development, with its promise of improving food quality and contribution to the attainment of food security worldwide. The research and development advances made by Taiwan ROC in agricultural biotechnology and subsequent agro-industry applications provide a fertile ground for learning among countries in Southeast Asia (SEA). Hence, the National Taiwan University (NTU) spearheaded the conduct of the Agricultural Biotechnology Training-Workshop in Partnership with Southeast Asian Countries on August 31 - September 11, 2010. The training-workshop aimed to improve the agri-biotech manpower of SEA countries, as well as to establish partnerships and cooperation for the development of agricultural biotechnology industry among countries in the region. This training-workshop on agricultural biotechnology is the fourth of a series of training courses launched in 2007, envisioned to pave the way for the enhancement of the biotechnology industry in the region. The two-week workshop involved lectures and laboratory exercises on the following topics: Taiwan’s

past, present, and future agriculture; DNA cloning; recombinant DNA techniques; protein production and purification; viral diseases in Taiwan; identification of GMOs; DNA molecular markers in plant genome analysis; implementation of DNA molecular markers in plant breeding; genetic transformation in plants; development and regulation of GM crops; and transgenic cloned animals in Taiwan. Study visits to laboratory facilities and private biotech companies were also conducted. Held at the Center for Biotechnology, NTU in Taipei City, the training workshop had 28 participants from Cambodia (2), Indonesia (2), Laos (1), Malaysia (3), Philippines (6), Taiwan (6), Thailand (4), and Vietnam (4). It was jointly organized by the NTU College of Bioresources and Agriculture (CBA), FFTC, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The Council of Agriculture (COA) and the National Science Council (NSC) of Taiwan ROC, as well as the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) sponsored the activity.

(Left) FFTC Director Dr. Jen-Chyuan lee addresses the workshop participants during the opening ceremony. (Above) The trainees during the laboratory session/exercises.

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urrently, the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is about 380 parts per million (ppm), and is increasing at roughly 2 ppm annually. In 35 years, if the atmospheric carbon dioxide will continue to increase by the current rate, it will reach a threshold of 450 ppm of carbon dioxide, considered by many scientists to be an “irreversible catastrophe.” The soil C (SOC) pool is 3.3 times the size of the atmospheric pool and 4.5 times the size of the biotic pool. The SOC pool to 1-m depth ranges from 30 tons/ha in arid climates to 800 tons/ha in organic soils in cold regions, and a predominant range of 50-150 tons/ha. The SOC pool represents a dynamic equilibrium of gains and losses of carbon. Conversion of natural to agricultural ecosystems causes depletion of the SOC pool by as much as 60% in soils of temperate regions and 75% or more in cultivated soils of the tropics. Peat lands, for instance, are estimated to contain 20-30% of the global soil carbon pool. In other words, they are regarded as a net global carbon sink for atmospheric CO2. Peat lands can sequester atmospheric carbon and store it for thousands of years as peat soils. Tropical deforestation and land use change have a significant impact on the global carbon cycle through increased rates of carbon emissions to the atmosphere and the loss of above- and below-ground carbon accumulation and storage capacity. Deforestation and land conversion can result in an initial loss of carbon from soils because of increased decomposition rates, erosion, reduced inputs, and so forth. Therefore, one of the promising strategies to mitigate atmospheric CO2 emissions is to reforest and restore abandoned tropical forests. The rate of soil organic carbon sequestration with adoption of recommended

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Evaluation and sustainable management of soil carbon sequestration in Asian countries

technologies depends on soil characteristics, rainfall, temperature, farming system, and soil management.

Asian forum on soil carbon sequestrationIn 2008, FFTC organized the first international seminar on Soil Information System (SIS) for Asian Countries held in Tsukuba, Japan, in order to understand the current status of soil database and their application in Asian countries, as well as to formulate an appropriate regional SIS scheme for users in the region. During the final discussion of the seminar, participants agreed to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to sustain the gains and outputs from the SIS seminar. As a follow-up of the 2008 meeting, FFTC in cooperation with the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES) of Japan and the Indonesian Soil Research Institute (ISRI) organized the international workshop on Evaluation and Sustainable Management of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Asian Countries, held at the IPB International Convention Center, Bogor, Indonesia on 27 September - 02 October 2010. There were 17 invited papers from 9 countries (USA, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan ROC, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia) covering topics from soil database and mapping of SOC, soil management and spatial and temporal changes of SOC by different land uses, as well as properties and dynamics of carbon in peatland areas.

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Participants of the international seminar during the (left) paper presentation and deliberation and (above) field study tour in Bogor, Indonesia.

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Turning waste into health benefits Improved utilization of fishery by-products as potential nutraceuticals and functional foods

arvesting of seafood is continuously rising due to its increasing consumption for its many proven health benefits. This in effect has led to the abundance of by-products, as can be seen from the frozen and canned seafood industry in the Asian region where tons of exoskeleton are discarded annually. Commercial processing of aquatic foods requires removal of bones, skin, head, and viscera (by-products), which account for approximately 60-70g/100g of the weight. Most by-products have traditionally been sold cheaply for use in fishmeal production, hauled into the ocean, or dumped on land. Nowadays, however, fishery by-products are subject to strict environmental regulations due to limited land and increased environmental concerns such as groundwater contamination and foul odor. Compliance with environmental standards and a better understanding of the potential values of processing by-products for a variety of applications have resulted in technological innovations for seafood wastes as nutraceuticals and functional foods. Currently, there has been a growing interest in natural ingredients which are readily available from seafood discards. However, lack of adequate utilization technology to fully convert such wastes into value-added products must be seriously addressed.

H In view of the above, FFTC in cooperation with Kasetsart University (KU) of Thailand, the National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU), the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) of Taiwan ROC, and the Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan ROC jointly organized and sponsored the international seminar on Improved Utilization of Fishery By-Products as Potential Nutraceuticals and Functional Food. Held at KU, Bangkok, Thailand, on 25-29 October 2010, the seminar primarily aimed to share and exchange relevant information and promising technologies on potential fishery by-product resources for value-added production into nutraceuticals and functional foods; as well as to promote and exchange seafood waste utilization technology and information among countries in the Asian region. The activity included three sessions: 1) Innovative utilization of fishery by-products; 2) Development of promising nutraceuticals; and 3) Development and improvement of functional foods. Fishery by-products developed and expected to have commercial values in the Asian and global markets were presented during the seminar. It was attended by 14 speakers (Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam) and about 50 organizers/local participants.

Potentials of nutraceuticals and functional foods from fishery by-productsNutraceutical, a term combining the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical,” is a broad umbrella term used to describe any food or food product derived from food sources that provides extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods. Products typically claim to prevent chronic diseases, improve health, delay the aging process, and increase life expectancy.

Oyster shells Ceramics for water treatment with bactericidal activity was developed from a combination of high-temperature ashing of oyster-shell waste and natural zeolite which turns the white ash into ceramic balls. The ceramic balls inhibit growth of two stains of E. coli, K-12 and O157. The oyster shell ash is mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The high-temperature ashing process converts the CaCO3 to CaO and demonstrates bactericidal effect on E. coli.In Taiwan, about 160,000 tons per year of oyster shells are generated

as industrial waste.

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Hot-water extract of pulverized oyster shell also produces functional polypeptides that exhibit tyrosinase-inhibitory activity, which is an index for skin-whitening effect. In addition, CaCO3 from oyster shells has been used as a calcium supplement.

Shrimp wastesIn some Asian countries, shrimp head extracts are spray-dried with cyclodextran to produce seafood flavor/seasoning. The digestive enzymes from shrimp wastes have also been found to facilitate fermentation in fish paste. Meanwhile, shrimp and crab shells can be recovered to manufacture chitin, chitosan, and glucosamine. Chitosan has been considered a “fat-binder” and is used for weight management to enhance binding of bile acid and excretion of sterols, thus, lowering cholesterol. It also serves as soluble dietary fiber to improve gastrointestinal function. Chitosan spray is also used in fruits and vegetable production to inhibit crown rot. The spray is also effective in reducing moisture loss

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during post-harvest handling of fruits and vegetable. Chitin/chitosan has been commercially manufactured from shrimp waste in Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The National University of Malaysia’s Chitin-Chitosan Research Center has been in existence for more than 20 years, while the Chito-Chem Sdn Bhd is a pioneer in the commercialization of chitosan production for skincare and health products. Astaxanthin, the chromophore in the carotenoprotein of shrimp shells, can be recovered and emulsified in an antioxidant-containing plant matrix of lignosulfonate and maize starch using beadlet technology. Astaxanthin is mostly used in feeds for aquaculture fishes especially for pigmentation of salmon. It is also an effective antioxidant with efficacy 500 times of vitamin E and up-regulated plasma HDL-cholesterol level.

Fish oilsThe health benefit of fish oil and health claims approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US and EU have increased the consumption of fish oil. In Asia, encapsulated fish oil for human consumption has been mainly imported. In this region, fish oil is rendered from fish wastes for feed uses. The fishy odor is still a drawback of fish oil product. Applications of novel technologies, such as supercritical fluid extraction, microencapsulation technology, and enzyme treatment for aroma modification have the potential to improve fish oil quality. Post-harvest handling method, collection strategy to prevent the oxidation of raw material, refining and concentration methods, and the harmonization of fish oil processed from different sources of fisheries and aquaculture species are research areas that need to be pursued to improve product

(Left) Shrimp waste for chitin/chitosan production, Vietnam. (Above) Fish essence from Thailand.

Hard clam essence in Taiwan.

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Sustainable management of soil carbon sequestration ...from page 3

Management of soil carbon sequestrationThe international seminar primarily sought to review the current status of soil carbon pools in major soil groups based on Asian Soil Information System (SIS) in the Asian region; review the current status of soil carbon pools in different land uses, such as croplands, grazing/range land, degraded soils, irrigated soils; assess the critical limit of soil organic carbon pools on most soils for food security, soil quality, nutrient management and carbon emission in this region; assess issues on soil carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change, including soil cultivation, crop nutrients requirement, soil erosion, farming practice, societies value and benefit, carbon cycling, etc.; and propose sustainable agricultural practice (soil and nutrient management, integrated farming system, etc.) and improved component technologies of SIS such as remote sensing and digital soil mapping for the enhancement of soil organic carbon pools. Following are among the recommendations drawn during the technical deliberations:

1. Develop reliable soil carbon databases at national levels taking into account. Some considerations identified include the need for same units in communicating among Asian countries; care in dealing with the SOC distribution within the upper 30-cm for different soil orders or other forms of groupings; bulk density data in soil databases; and legacy databases.

2. Monitor effects of various types of land use on soil C stocks, such as, focus on effects of rice cropping systems in Asia on SOC stocks; need to collect information on soil carbon sequestration rates in different land uses or different soil groups; and better understanding of the dynamics of soil C in terms of emission of soil gas, soil erosion, soil degradation, and soil pollution.

3. Obtain a better understanding of soil carbon dynamics under various land management practices; more data needed on the emission of soil gasses under various management practices; comprehensive data on soil erosion, soil degradation, and soil pollution.

4. Develop a model for a more accurate prediction in the upper 30-cm depth of soils; use of geographic information system (GIS) technique for soil mapping hommolization on boundary of polygons; and use of remote sensing database and geostatistics models.

5. Strategies to increase the soil C sequestration, such as, afforestation, reforestation or agroforestation; soil conservation; soil restoration; and soil remediation techniques.

6. Policies to promote soil C stocks, namely, soil conservation education and extension; monitoring of projects to understand soil C changes; and promotion of sustainable soil management.

FFTC and Kasetsart University (KU) sign MOU on agricultural technical partnership

TO SEAl THE COMMITMENT and looking forward to amore rewarding and fruitful collaboration between FFTCand KU, Thailand in the years ahead, a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MOU) between the two organizationswas signed by FFTC Director Dr. Jen-Chyuan Lee andKU President Dr. Vudtechai Kapilakanchana on October 28, 2010 in KU, Bangkok, Thailand. The signing coincided with the conduct of the international seminar on Improved Utilization of Fishery By-products as Potential Nutraceuticals and Functional Food jointly organized by FFTC and KU. The MOU recognizes the two organizations' intent to pursue complementary mission and mutual objectives in achieving capacity building, education, training, and research and development goals.

FFTC Director Dr. Jen-Chyuan lee (left) and KU President Dr. Vudtechai Kapilakanchana (right) signed the MOU on agricultural technical cooperation between their respective organizations.

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Improved utilization of fishery by-products ...from page 5

quality of fish oil produced in the Asian region. Cage-cultured cobia is a potential source of fish liver oil. Wastes from cultured eel, catfish and milkfish as well as ocean-caught tuna, sardine, and squid may also be recycled to manufacture fish oil.

Fish protein by-products Collagen. The skin of tilapia, catfish, and snakehead yield high content of gelatin with high gel strength. Commercial production of gelatin is in the development stage with one small manufacturer in Malaysia. In Thailand, catfish skin is treated with alkaline, then with acid to extract collagen and gelatin. In Taiwan, tilapia skin and scale are separated, hydrolyzed with enzymes and extracted then spray-dried and commercially marketed as “fish collagen peptide” for skincare or as nutraceutical products. Fish collagen may also be made as collagen drink and collagen marshmallow. In Indonesia, a process was established to boil the raw material to extract the collagen from fish bones and to degrease. The extract is then dried and immersed in acid until ossein is obtained. The dried powder of ossein is called collagen. Hemoproteins. Catfish is bled and 90% of the blood is recovered aided by absorption with chitin. The fish blood by-product is rich in essential amino acids and iron which are used in aquaculture feeds. If the blood collection and the process were subjected to strict hygienic control, the hemoprotein obtained can be used as human dietary supplements. Muscle protein hydrolysates. Fish meat from fish frame has been made into fish protein concentrate (FPC) and fish protein hydrolysate (FHC). Development of FPC in Malaysia was the first concerted effort in the country to convert the underutilized fish into value-added and readily-acceptable product. The residual clam meat from processing clam essence is hydrolyzed into peptides. The peptides consisting of 3-20 amino acids showed anti-oxidative and anti-hypertensive functions.

Macro-algaeAlgae culture has not gained as much emphasis as fish culture. In Taiwan, the crude extract of Sargassum exhibits anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities contributed by its fucose and fucoidan contents. Fucoxanthin and phlorotannins are two major classes of bioactive compounds responsible for the anti-oxidative, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activities. In addition to the brown algae, red algae and green algae may also have potential bioactivities worth exploring.

Issues, prospects and recommendationsToward the improved utilization of fishery by-products as nutraceuticals and functional foods, effectiveness, sustainability and safety are the key. Scientific/ medical evidence is vital to establish health benefits of nutraceuticals. Nutraceutical is currently not regulated despite efforts for legal and scientific criterion and standards. Hence, labeling/ notification regarding health promoting benefits is an important issue. One major recommendation during the seminar is for Asian countries to have a standard definition and classification of nutraceuticals/functional foods, and a harmonized or common standard. In terms of bioavailability of nutraceuticals, collection techniques to recover bioactive constituents in fishery wastes, novel processing technologies, and absorption rate of supplement product are among the main challenges. Cost effectiveness of research, development and production as against health benefits should also be of prime consideration. Sustainability of raw materials, or availability of alternative raw materials, and other environmental concerns such as foul odor and by-product (raw materials) quality must also be considered, as well as potential market, public acceptability and safety of products. Process and product development for the preparation of fish collagen from by-products of novel aquaculture species and ocean-caught fishes, and a platform for systematic studies of the biochemical properties, bioactivities, and safety of the collagen peptides are beneficial to stimulate recycling of the waste materials in the region. Methodologies for the screening of underutilized fishery materials with potential economical value and technology transfer from laboratory research to commercial production are likewise vital considerations. Lastly, novel subjects for collaborative research and development, such as isolation of probiotics from fish gut with inhibitory activities against fish diseases, algae culture and identification of bioactive compounds in underutilized algae, must be pursued.

Brown algaeproduction for fucoxanthinin Korea.

Photo courtesy of H.R. Kim, Pukyong National University, Korea.

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The Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) is an international agricultural information center for small-scale farmers in the Asian and Pacific region. It collects and disseminates information on improved low-cost technology, with the aim of helping farmers obtain better yields and a higher income. Articles in this Newsletter may be translated, quoted or reprinted, provided credit is given to the source.

Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region

5th Fl., 14 Wenchow St. Taipei 10648, Taiwan ROC Tel. (886 2) 2362 6239 Fax (886 2) 2362 0478 E-mail: info@fftc.agnet.orgWebsite: http://www.fftc.agnet.orgISSN: 1010-0628

FFTC Quarterly Newsletter

New Publications

FFTC ANNUAl REPORT 2009

The year 2009 was a testament to FFTC's commitment to confront the challenges of globalization and the interweaving issues and concerns that it brings. This Annual Report highlights the Center's programs and activities in 2009 aimed at generating cutting-edge yet practical technologies and information for small-scale farmers in the region. Traversing into the third-year implementation of the FFTC Strategic Plan for 2007-2011, the Center's activities in 2009 focused on promoting modern and practical information and technology toward achieving the Plan's main goals of increased income and improved livelihood of small-scale farmers, improved food safety, enhancement of environment-friendly technology, and sustainable use of natural resources in the region.

UTIlIZATION OF NATIVE ANIMAlS FOR BUIlDING RURAl ENTERPRISES IN wARM ClIMATE ZONE

This book is the proceedings of the international seminar-workshop on the Utilization of Native Animals in Building Rural Enterprises in Warm Climate Zone held in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines on July 19-23, 2010. Jointly organized by FFTC, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources (PCARRD), and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), the seminar-workshop aimed to gather and organize practical strategies and technologies that would enhance sustainable production and utilization of native animals in building rural enterprises. This volume contains a total of 12 resource papers from 7 participating countries namely, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, ROC, Thailand and Vietnam.