GLOBAL MARKET OF GUAR

Guar is basically a crop that is cultivated mostly in the arid and semi arid areas as it is drought resistant. That is why the Southern Asian continent suits well to the cultivation of this crop especially the Indian subcontinent. The powder made after refining the gum obtained from the plant makes an important raw material in many industries. This powder has some unique characteristics like grease resistance, thickening agent, capacity to bind water, high viscosity and the capability to function in low temperatures which makes it a highly popular in those sectors. Among other by- products of guar, guar gum powder is the main marketable commodity.
India has been a major player in the context of guar and guar gum in the global market.India’s production contributes to 80% of the world’s total production figuring up to 6 lakh tons.Rajasthan wholly retains the credit for India’s position producing 70% of the production itself.Guar is largely consumed as a vegetable in the Indian subcontinent. It is also used in making pickles.25000 tons of the total production in the country constitutes to the domestic market.
Guar gum has a vast range of industrial applications and the major share of demand comes from various industrial sectors only.
India is the leading net exporter of guar seeds and guar gum. The country exports over 117000 tons of guar and its derivatives, which is comprised by 33000 tons of refined split guar gum, and 84000 tons of treated and pulverized guar gum.
The net worth of the Indian exports is estimated over Rs 500 crores.
The production list of guar is dominated by India as a leading producer of this crop. The consumption pattern of guar seeds is largely influenced by the demands from the petroleum industry of United States of America and the oil fields in the Middle East as the derivative products of these seeds are quite useful in the petroleum drilling industries.
United States alone constitute to around 40 thousand tons of guar and its derivatives demand.
Also, in rest of the world, the trend of consumption has increased with time that has lead to the introduction of this crop in many countries.

The major importing countries of Indian Guar Gum and its derivatives are

United States of America,Germany,France,United Kingdom,South Africa,Netherlands,
Italy,Japan,T Canada, China, Chile, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom,  Ireland, Sweden, Greece, Portugal, Mexico.

GUAR GUM FOR HEALTH

The claimed effect is “impact on blood glucose/glycaemic control/glycaemic response”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to long-term maintenance or achievement of normal blood glucose concentrations. The Panel considers that long-term maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect. In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that the only study presented investigated longterm effects of guar gum on fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin, the latter being an appropriate measure to assess long-term blood glucose control, and found no effect of guar gum consumption at doses eight times higher than proposed in the conditions of use.On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of guar gum and long-term maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations.Increase in satiety The claimed effect is “satiety”. The target population is assumed to be individuals who need to control their energy intake. In the context of this opinion, satiety is interpreted as the decrease in the motivation to eat after consumption of food leading to a reduction in energy intake. The Panel considers that an increase in satiety might be a beneficial physiological effect.In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that no controlled studies assessing the effects of guar gum consumption on appetite ratings and subsequent energy intake have been presented.On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of guar gum and increased satiety.Maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations The claimed effect is “cholesterol maintenance”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel notes that the claimed effect refers to maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect.On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of guar gum and the reduction of blood cholesterol concentrations. 
In order to bear a claim, foods should provide at least 10 g per day of guar gum in one or more 
servings. The target population is adults.
KEY WORDS
Guar gum, blood glucose, satiety, cholesterol, 

Industrial used of Guar Gum

Industrial Applications of Guar Gum 

Guar gum and its derivatives are widely used in various industries as per its needs. Its used in industries such as food, textile, pharmaceuticals, personal care, health  care, nutrition, cosmetics, paper, explosives, mining and oil well drilling. Guar gum 
mainly functions as a thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer, binding agent, gelling agent, natural fiber, flocculant, fracturing agent etc. in the above-mentioned industries Applications of Food Grade Guar Gum Powder/ Derivatives. 

Food Industry 
In food Industry guar gum / derivatives is used as gelling, viscosifying, thickening, clouding and binding agent as well as used for stabilization, emulsification, preservation, water retention, enhancement of water soluble fiber content etc. Some food products in which guar gum powder is used are:Ice cream, soft drinks & concentrates, puddings Chocolate milk, flavored milk .
Pharmaceutical Industry 
Guar gum or its derivatives are used in pharmaceutical industries as gelling / viscosifying / thickening, suspension, stabilization, emulsification, preservation, water retention / water phase control, binding, clouding/bodying, process aid, pour control for suspensions, anti-acid formulations, tablet binding & disintegration agent, controlled drug delivery systems, slimming aids, nutritional foods etc. Guar gum is an important non-caloric source of soluble dietary fiber. Guar gum powder is widely used in capsules as dietary fiber. Fiber is a very imprtant element of any healthy diet. It is useful in clear the intestinal system since fiber cannot be digested. This keeps the intestines functioning properly and also improves certain disorders and ailments. All natural fiber diet works with body to achieve a feeling of fullness and to reduce hunger. Its synergistic mix of guar gum and fiber mixture when taken with water expands in stomach to produce a feeling of fullness.   

Cosmetic Industry 
Guar gum or its derivatives being used as a thickener, protective colloid and conditioner in hair/skin care products, creams, shampoos and lotions. Beside this, these are also used in toothpaste and shaving cream for easy extruding from the container tube. 


Applications of Industrial Grade Guar Gum Powder/ Derivatives 

In industrial applications, guar gum powder/derivatives utilized as thickening agent, sizing agent, wet-end strength additive, gelling agent and water barrier, flocculation aid for waste water treatment, as emulsifier, binder. Also used for mud formulations, enhanced oil recovery, polymer flooding, well treatment, lost circulation plugging etc. Guar gum industrial grade powder is used in industries such as textile printing & sizing, fire fighting, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, printing inks, mosquito mats, synthetic resins, paper industry, battery electrolytes, water treatment, floatation agent, water paint, carpet printing, oil well drilling, explosives, mining etc. 

Paper Industry 
Guar gum provides better properties compared to substitutes.It gives denser surface to the paper used for printing.Guar gum imparts improved erasive and writing properties, better bonding strength and increased hardness.Due to improved adhesion, it gives better breaking, mullen and folding strengths. 

Textile Industry 
Guar gum gives excellent film forming and thickening properties when used for textile sizing, finishing and printing.It reduces warp breakage, reduces dusting while sizing and gives better efficiency in production. 

Oil Field Industry 
Industrial grade guar gum powder/derivatives are use in oil well fracturing, oil well stimulation, mud drilling and industrial applications and preparations as a stabilizer, thickener and suspending agent. It is a natural, fast hydrating dispersible guar gum and is diesel slurriable.13in the oil field industry, guar gum is used as a surfactant,synthetic polymer and deformer ideally suited for all rheological requirements of water-based and brinebased drilling fluids. High viscosity guar gum products are used as drilling aids in oil well drilling, geological drilling and water drilling. These products are used as viscosifiers to maintain drilling mud iscosities that enable drilling fluids to remove drill waste from deep holes.Guar gum products also reduce friction in the holes,and so minimizing power requirements. Some guar gum derivatives act to minimize water loss should occur in broken geological formations.Metallurgical and Mining Industry Guar gum is widely used as a flocculants to produce liquid solid separation.Guar gum is also used in flotation. It acts as a depressant for talc or insoluble gangue mined along with the valuable minerals. 

Explosive Industry 
Gelling agent for gel sausage type explosives and pump able slurry explosives.Water blocking agent in nitro-glycerine, slurry explosives, ammonium nitrate and dynamite explosives- by mixing guar gum in mmonium nitrate, nitro-glycerine and oil explosives, even in wet conditions, explosive property is maintained. This is due to the better swelling, water blocking and gelling properties of guar gum. Note: The author has used various references in the preparation of this article. For further details please contact him. ACI AGRO SOLUTION

GUAR GUM MEDICINAL USES

 guar’s roots have nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which improve the quality of the soil and increase the yield of subsequent crops. In addition to being an organic green manure, the guar seed is a valuable source of vegetable protein for humans and cattle. Unlike the seeds of other legumes, cluster beans have large endosperms that contain galactomannan, a  gum that forms a gel in cold water. This gel is used as an ingredient for strengthening paper and as a thickener for ice cream and salad dressing.

Due to its high fiber content, guar also has medicinal uses. It helps in maintaining a healthy digestive tract and can effectively treat various intestinal diseases, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s disease.

With such valuable traits, it is no surprise that organizations like Practical Action are encouraging farmers in the semi-arid Zambezi valley of northern Zimbabwe to grow cluster beans. This project has provided small-scale farmers with some of the inputs they needto cultivate the crop, as well as helping them develop a sound market system to reap benefits from the harvest.

There have been additional efforts to introduce guar in other parts of Africa as a way to increase both nutrition and income. The Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC) in Sudan recently conducted a study to evaluate the crops’ adaptability to the semi-arid environment of the Darfur region. In this study, guar was grown along with other crops under the same environmental conditions. When harvested, guar had the highest yield, prompting suggestions that it should be introduced in the region as a new food crop. This could be an important step to reduce hunger in Darfur, a region that is still one of the “world’s worst hunger hotspots” according to Amer Daoudi, representative for the UN’s World Food Program in Sudan.

As the popularity of guar increases, this versatile crop could prove useful in not only combating hunger but also providing an economic outlet for small scale farmers in semi-arid regions of the world.

To read more about indigenous crops see: Finger Millet: A Once and Future Staple, Lablab: The Bountiful, Beautiful Legume, The Green Gold of Africa and Potato, Potahto.

ACI AGRO SOLUTION is a research intern with the Nourishing the Planet project.