New Protein Source Cotton, Want to Try?

Besides the clothing materials, cotton is now used as food ingredients. Researchers found a high protein content in cotton and can be used as a source of new proteins. Want to try to eat cotton? . Plants that have been developed 7000 years ago, now has support of about 20 million farmers in 80 countries. Nearly 40 percent of cotton is used as raw material to make clothing.



But there is one thing missing from the cotton, the cotton can also be used as nutritious food.

Seed cotton is a source of very high protein. However, seed cotton can be consumed only after going through the process of purification of gossypol, a toxic chemical which functions to protect plants from insects and microorganisms.

"Humans, pigs, chickens and many other creatures can not digest gossypol. Only cattle and animals that have the stomach just can ruminan" Kater said hake, from the Agricultural Research for the Cotton Industry Group Inc. as quoted by Time, Wednesday (9/9/2009).

The latest techniques developed by researchers to remove gossypol and obtain edible protein called RNA interference.

Researchers applying these techniques on a cotton plant genetic modification or products GMO (Genetically Modified Organism), and it worked eliminate gossypol in cotton. This means the cotton is edible and available to the public in the near future.

"It feels good kok, such as long beans," said hake.

By eating the seeds of cotton, you'll not only get a high protein, but the price was cheap. During this protein is controlled by pulse crops, especially soybeans, but the price is still more expensive when compared with cotton.

So, choose soy or cotton?