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The world's most expensive spice could provide a lifeline to Colorado farmers
Alexander the Great, king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, reportedly bathed in saffron to heal his battle wounds. Doctors once prescribed this rare plant as a treatment for the bubonic plague.
AI Summary
Researchers at Colorado State University’s urban‑campus site in Denver are testing saffron’s viability as a new cash crop for the drought‑hit American West. Graduate horticulture student Reece Bailey has planted dozens of saffron bulbs on the green roof of the CSU Spur facility to assess how the world’s most expensive spice grows in Colorado’s high‑plain climate. The project aims to determine whether saffron could provide supplemental income for Colorado farmers facing water shortages. Historical notes mention the spice’s past medicinal and luxury uses, but the study focuses on its modern agricultural potential.
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