El potencial de la biodiversidad nativa para el desarrollo de la bioeconomía regional- El caso del calafate

Abstract

The current production model of agriculture and livestock faces many problems that put humanity's food security at risk, forcing us to seek more sustainable economic models. In this sense, bioeconomy is an alternative, and the use of regional flora and the reuse of industrial waste to obtain by-products are some of its pillars. In Patagonia, many native plants are consumed, recognized for their benefits for human health, such as the Calafate (Berberis microphylla). This species has been widely studied for containing biocomposites in its fruits, stems, leaves, and roots, with potential for pharmaceutical and food industries. The Calafate is a highly appreciated resource in this region since the fruits are used to prepare regional food products. The seeds of this species constitute a by-product in the process. However, seeds have recently been proposed as a promising source of proteins and peptides with antioxidant activity. These properties make them a potential resource for the food industry in a bioeconomic context, whose composition and biological activities need further study.