Research may shut ‘protein gap’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32703, 4 September 1971, Page 21

Research may shut ‘protein gap’

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, September 2. Details of research into plant protein extraction at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lincoln which could help feed two-thirds of the world population suffering from malnutrition were given by the Minister for Education and Science (Mr Talboys) at the South Island Local Bodies’ Association conference in Invercargill today.

Mr Taiboys, guest speaker at the conference, said the research at Lincoln could play a big part in finding a solution to the "protein gap,” which was a major cause of world hunger. “Industry has strongly supported these investigations with funds and equipment, and there seems little doubt that we will be producing protein extract from plants on a commercial scale in the near future,” he said. “The protein gap is a major problem for those seeking solutions to the world population explosion, and we are right up with

world research into protein extraction techniques. “Work at Lincoln may well have provided us with another shot in our locker to help solve world population and food problems.” Speaking on the need to diversify rural industry, Mr Taiboys said that exotic crops were planned for the rich farming areas west of Christchurch. He said research had shown that two local species of the nightshade family were good sources of a substance from which many hormone drugs, including the birth control pill, could be made. “Continuing investigations promise distinct economic possibilities of growing these two species successfully as an annual crop from seed in Canterbury,” he said. “Similar possibilities have been shown for peppermint oil, and rape seed, sunflower and safflower are also being intensively investigated at Lincoln as sources of oil. “Trials have shown that rape crops for oil-seed production can be grown successfully in most areas of Otago and Southland, where spring wheat is grown.”