As part of the distribution and dissemination efforts for the ongoing AcroAlliance Project, we are happy to share the first issue of our AcroAlliance Newsletter. The newsletter gives you a glimpse of our latest advances in the project, as well as an overview of the project structure and what is to come in future project activities. 

The AcroAlliance consortium reiterates the urge to diversify vegetable oil sources by sustainable alternatives that contribute to land restoration and reduce the risks of deforestation, loss of biodiversity and land use change in tropical rainforests associated to the increase of oil production from conventionally and large-scale cultivated crops such as African Oil Palm, which represents more than 35% (80 millions of tons) of the global production of vegetable oil. The joint efforts from the AcroAlliance consortium and its partners, with help from the funding institutions, seek to establish the macauba palm as a more-sustainable oil producing crop. 

For more information, please visit our AcroAlliance website www.acroalliance.info

The kick-off meeting of the project AcroAlliance took place at the Federal University of Viçosa on 25th and 26th November 2022. Researchers involved in the different work packages, from plant material development to product development from high-added value fractions such as oils, proteins and fibers, had the opportunity to present advances and provide an outlook to the research activities. The workshop included visits to the larges acrocomia germplasm bank, located in Araponga (Minas Gerais) as well as diverse labs in the University's campus. Representatives from all involved research organizations and also associate partners of the project (i.e. companies) participated in the workshop and shared knowledge related to acrocomia value chains. More information about the project: https://www.acroalliance.info/

AcroAlliance is an applied project that involves research and industry partners from Brazil and Germany, with expertise from the macaúba seed (Acrocomia aculeata, macaw palm) to advanced applications. The goal of AcroAlliance is to develop high value refined oils, proteins and dietary fibers from acrocomia fruits, while addressing major gaps for the development of a sustainable acrocomia value web. Specific objectives are (i) developing optimum planting material; (ii) determining best agricultural practices for integrated Macauba land-use systems; (iii) provide a validated postharvest treatment to ensure high quality fractions; (iv) developing and optimizig processes to obtain refined oils, proteins and dietary fibers within a decentralized biorefinery concept; (v) evaluating the market potential and technical feasibility of the developed Macauba-based products; (vi) identifying sustainable strategies and scenarios for implementing the value web concept.

Project duration: 1 Sep 2021 - 31 August 2025

More information about the project: https://www.acroalliance.info/

Developing sustainability-oriented, biomass-based value webs from novel crops, such as acrocomia, is a complex process that requires collaborative systems approaches in research and development.This paper explores the consideration of a systems approach to acrocomia research and development against the background of the biomass-based value web framework. As a first step, we identified research networks making significant contributions to the acrocomia knowledge base. This analysis set the baseline for conducting a multi-actor workshop on acrocomia, with the aim of promoting the adoption of a systems approach and fostering inter- and transdisciplinarity as well as stakeholder involvement in the context of bioeconomy transitions. The dialogue with academic and non-academic actors allowed the identification of priorities, research gaps and needs for setting a roadmap for the development of acrocomia as a future-oriented and sustainable crop for the bioeconomy. The participants engaged in discussions on the status of acrocomia and collaboratively contributed to the prospects of an agenda for establishing acrocomia value webs. Priorities,
gaps, and needs in acrocomia R&D, as well as value-web governance, were identified in the roles of (1) research organizations, (2) industry and business associations, (3) government, and (4) civil society and farmers. This input was further used for setting a research and development roadmap towards the implementation of sustainable acrocomia value webs.

Available online (Open Access) under: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/10/1748

This review attempts to assess the acrocomia’s preparedness for cultivation by highlighting the state-of-the-art in research and identifying research gaps. Based on a systematic literature search following a value web approach, it (a) provides a comprehensive overview of research topics, (b) shows the development of publication activities over time and the drivers of this development, and (c) compiles main findings to assess the acrocomia’s preparedness for commercial cultivation. Our results confirm its multipurpose characteristic as a potential feedstock for manifold sectors. Research has continued to increase over the last decade, especially on A. aculeata and is driven by the interest in bioenergy. Increasing knowledge on botany has contributed to understanding the genetic diversity and genus-specific biology. This has enabled applied research on seed germination and propagation toward domestication and initial plantation activities, mostly in Brazil. Main research gaps are associated with genotype–environment interaction, planting material, crop management, and sustainable cropping systems. Overall, we conclude that acrocomia is at an early phase of development as an alternative and multipurpose crop and its up-scaling requires the integration of sustainability strategies tailored to location-based social-ecological conditions.

Available online under: link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13593-021-00729-5

[EN] Press article (in German) published by the Frankfurter Rundschau about the ongoing discussion on palm oil and promising alternatives such acrocomia spp. "The Acrocomia palm from South America is a promising alternative to palm oil. It delivers comparable yields and, according to Thomas Hilger from the Institute for Tropical Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim, is suitable for a wide range of applications such as food, cosmetics and biofuels. Your advantage: In contrast to the oil palm, it grows not only in humid tropical climates, but also in drier areas. "

[DE] Presseartikel der Frankfurter Rundschau über die anhaltende Diskussion um Palmöl und vielversprechende Alternativen wie Acrocomia spp. "Die Acrocomia-Palme aus Südamerika gilt als vielversprechende Palmöl-Alternative. Sie liefert vergleichbare Erträge und eignet sich laut Thomas Hilger vom Institut für Tropische Agrarwissenschaften der Universität Hohenheim für vielfältige Anwendungen wie Lebensmittel, Kosmetik oder Biokraftstoffe. Ihr Vorteil: Im Gegensatz zur Ölpalme wächst sie nicht nur in feucht-tropischem Klima, sondern auch in trockeneren Gebieten."

Access: https://www.fr.de/zukunft/storys/ernaehrung/die-crux-mit-dem-palmoel-90981652.html 

This article determined the vitamin E profiles of Costa Rican Acrocomia aculeata from three different region, indicating differences in vitamin E content among samples from the chosen regions. The highest vitamin E content was observed in the region with the most tropical climatic conditions. Data from this study suggest that higher diversity and total amount of vitamin E observed in the region with the highest rainfall and temperatures are a possible adaptation of the crop to regions outside subtropical zones.

Available online under: 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157521001368 

The aim of this study was to assess variability in fruit morphology and oil composition of individual Acrocomia aculeata plants growing wild in different climatic regions of Costa Rica. Biometric parameters showed high variability among the regions assessed. Moreover, oil content and relative proportions of unsaturated fatty acids were higher at the most tropical location, whereas lauric acid content was lowest under these conditions, indicating a potential environmental effect on oil composition. Pulp oil content correlated positively with annual precipitation and relative humidity, but no clear relation to temperature was observed. The oil chemical composition was similar to that reported for Elaeis guineensis, suggesting that Acrocomia aculeata from Costa Rica may be a suitable alternative for industrial applications currently based on African palm oil.

Available online under: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10457-020-00511-8

From 11th to 13th September 2019, leading scientists from Latin America and Germany met for the first time in the 1st International Acrocomia Workshop — Acrocomia plus: Latin America's plant diversity and its bioeconomic potential to present on-going research activities and discuss knowledge gaps, research priorities and future collaborations with regard to Acrocomia spp., (Macaw palm, Macauba) and its bioeconomical potential. Our guests represented different geographic regions and scientific disciplines with complementary expertise along the Acrocomia value chain. Topics discussed ranged from agricultural topics such as seed germination and agricultural systems to fully developed applications, while considering sustainability aspects through-out. This lead to a fruitful interdisciplinary and cross-regional “academic space” addressing the question: What are the major research advances, challenges and future possibilities in Acrocomia research - from fundamental to applied research on plant and biomass, processing and products as well as the overall aspects of sustainability? +info