Source: Oleoscope (Russia)
Amaranth, recognized as a pseudosilk, is attracting growing interest in both the academic and industrial spheres due to its beneficial biological characteristics, varied phytochemical makeup, and significant pharmacological properties. This rising interest indicates its prospective uses across multiple domains and suggests a promising increase in its cultivation and processing market.
As reported by the Agronomy 2025 survey referenced in AgroXXI, the leading producers of amaranth seeds include China, India, Russia, Nepal, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Kenya. Worldwide, the yield of amaranth seeds can vary between 1.5 to 7.2 tons per hectare.
In Europe, seed yields show notable variation across several countries: Germany (2100-3300 kg/ha), Italy (1200-6700 kg/ha), the Slovak Republic (2100-2700 kg/ha), Croatia (1300-2600 kg/ha), Denmark (1000 kg/ha), Turkey (2105-4490 kg/ha), Romania (2650 kg/ha), and Ukraine (2460-4350 kg/ha).
Amaranth seeds are abundant in plant squalene, a beneficial compound for both pharmacology and cosmetology, with its concentration in amaranth oil ranging from 2.4% to 12%, influenced by the species/genotype, origin, and cultivation area. In contrast, squalene levels in oils such as olive, wheat germ, and rice bran generally fall between 0.1% and 0.7%, making amaranth a significantly more valuable source for squalene extraction.
The production of amaranth seeds is consistently growing in Europe, where it is acknowledged as a niche pseudo-grain (totaling around 6000 tons of niche seed). Germany stands out as the primary market for seed consumption, while its popularity is on the rise in other developed nations, including the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and France.