Nutritional differences in eggs, chicken, and plantain from agroecological, conventional, and commercial systems: a case study in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

This case study examines the nutritional differences between agroecological, conventional, and commercial products in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Using a participatory methodology with local farmers, eggs, chicken, and plantain were selected for analysis. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents were compared across the three production systems. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and MANOVA. Results indicate that agroecological products from the studied farms tended to have lower moisture content. Agroecological eggs showed higher fat content (11.09 g/100 g vs 9.32 g/100 g conventional and 8.45 g/100 g commercial). Agroecological chicken presented higher protein content (22.37 g/100 g vs 20.73 g/100 g conventional and 18.1 g/100 g commercial) and potassium (281 mg/100 g vs 298 mg/100 g conventional and 213 mg/100 g commercial). Agroecological plantain had higher ash content (0.85 g/100 g vs 0.77 g/100 g conventional and 0.79 g/100 g commercial) and calcium (8 mg/100 g vs 5 mg/100 g conventional and 6 mg/100 g commercial). These differences were statistically significant (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). While these findings suggest potential nutritional benefits of agroecological production in this region, further studies with a larger number of replicates are needed to confirm these trends on a broader scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]