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Chef Ángel León has been in the news twice this week. A few days ago the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, recognized the chef from Cadiz as a Food Hero for his work promoting sustainable seafood cuisine and for raising awareness about water management.
In addition, the so-called ‘Chef of the Sea’ has also participated in San Sebastián Gastronomika with a talk in which he unveiled a new discovery that could transform the world of food. After three years of research, the Aponiente team has announced the discovery of an extraordinary source of vegetable proteins of marine origin: Canavalia rosea. It is a marine soybean that can be considered a new superfood.
Scientific studies support the nutritional properties of this food, such as high concentrations of high quality proteins, complex carbohydrates, a great variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron, and a low content of anti-nutrients. Therefore, it becomes a highly beneficial and healthy option for human nutrition.
“We have discovered in the sea a source of proteins that we never dreamed of finding” commented the chef during his presentation, adding that it has 50% protein and 40% carbohydrates. He also announced that “since 2022 we have been working on an R&D project with the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC) and the company Vegetales Marinos for the experimental cultivation of Canavalia rosea in Venezuela, with the aim of using pods, beans and leaves in the production of nutritional products”.
October 16 is World Food Day
On the occasion of World Food Day on October 16, FAO took the opportunity to announce the #FoodHeroes who are taking action for water, to manage this resource wisely while providing us with food now and in the future, leaving no one behind. Among them, as we mentioned at the beginning, is Ángel León.
“It is crazy to think that we will have to eat crickets or that we should go to the moon to grow lettuce. I believe that the true future of humanity lies in looking towards the sea,” said Ángel León, thrilled with this international recognition,