TEACH‐IN NO. 8: Research on starch

Starch is the food‐reserve material of all higher plants, where it is stored in the form of characteristic, cold water‐insoluble particles known as starch granules. As starches are polymers of glucose, which are readily assimilated, they form an important source of nutritional energy in the human diet. Indeed, a very high proportion of the world's food energy‐intake is as starch, and cultivation of plant sources rich in this polysaccharide are widespread. 82% of all food crops are composed of cereals and starchy root‐crops.