| The plants in the world is a huge leaf mass of incomparable richness. The green leaves contain more nutrients than grains and roots, excluding energy.
They equal the value of protein Most animal products and even exceed levels of vitamins and trace elements .
But the digestive system of humans is not suitable for direct consumption of leaves. He is unable to absorb and digest in a volume sufficient to balance their nutritional needs. Therefore APEF moved - leaf extract their nutritional components richest : protein, vitamin and trace elements, after having eliminated the part non-digestible fiber and a large Part of the mineral content of the whole plant, - then bring them in the form of dry concentrate fully digestible by supplementation of diets based malnourished individuals. The manufacturing process is simple: once harvested, the plant is crushed and pressed, and the resulting green juice is heated to 90 °. Under the influence of heat, proteins coagulate, carrying with them the materials mostly insoluble or soluble, including vitamins, lipids and trace elements. The leaf extract (coagulum) is filtered, dried and bagged for later use as is or mixed with other foods. The fibrous residue is excellent for livestock feed. Its utilization by livestock is essential for economic and financial balance of the production of concentrate. Prospects and Development The objective of APEF is the global spread of the concept of leaf extract, with, where possible, local self-sufficiency may one day provide the needs of all malnourished populations. Development can be done: - At the family level with a simple method developed by SOYNICA in NICARAGUA, from green leafy vegetables or even local plants and shrubs. The volume produced is very low. The process is tailored to the needs of a family in rural malnourished or a few individuals.
I is described in the "Method Home» Click here . - Locally a village or a group of villages, using the traditional process of manufacturing EF developed by Leaf for Life, based on small materials performance. Drawback: the high cost. - At the regional level, creating small semi-industrial units on fertile, irrigated land, subject to value the fibrous part of food by ruminants particularly dairy cows or beef cattle, direct consumption. But EFL products by France are necessary - for consumption in areas unsuitable for agricultural : land, climate, water resources in cities, in countries with political instability or weak economic environment, and finally, in areas where millions of people currently suffering from malnutrition and could be quickly rescued without production and foreign aid. - for the launch of the first programs consumption in the candidate regions to self production and before the installation of an extraction plant. - in food aid programs mixed in food ready. Thanks to their great wealth, EFL correct properly and for a very low cost, nutritional deficiencies of cereals, pulses, roots and tubers available locally or imported. nutritional capacity and usage The manufacturing method of LLC allows them to limit the presence of constituents usual staple food (carbohydrates: carbohydrates, sugars) or less interesting (lignocellulose) in favor of a densely concentrated, with only 8% of the dry matter of the whole plant, and very rich protein, vitamins, lipids and minerals. This concentrate is the perfect complement to cereals and legumes, the indispensable but unbalanced diets of the poor. Just 5 to 15 grams / day of EFL to replace animal products, vegetables and fruits they are private. Nutrient contribution of EFL is presented in a "comparison chart" with other common foods.
to get the "Comparison Chart" click ic i . At first, APEF relied on the English experience (concentrated wet) to determine the daily quantities of EFL (dry presentation) to give children and mothers. Then we gathered information from our various centers of supplementation in a "Note to use" short of addressing both the conservation and presentation, as mixtures and consumption.
For the "Note use of" click here . We place special emphasis on the need to respect the progressivity of the quantities distributed in the early contributions of EFL in rations, both to accustom the child to the particular taste of alfalfa for a better digestive tolerance. Using EFL is simple. APEF wants users to meet the stated amounts which appear sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of children and mothers.
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