Agrobiodiversity for food security, health and income

Abstract

By the year 2050, agriculture will have to provide the food and nutrition requirements of some 9 billion people. Moreover, to maintain that level of productivity indefinitely it must do so using environmentally sustainable production systems. This task will be profoundly complicated by the effects of climate change, increasing competition for water resources and loss of productive lands. Agricultural production methods will also need to recognize and accommodate ongoing rural to urban migration and address a host of economic, ecological and social concerns about the 'high inputs/high outputs' model of present-day industrial agriculture. At the same time, there is a need to confront the unacceptable levels of continuing food and nutrition insecurity, greatest in the emerging economy countries of Africa and Asia where poverty, rapid population growth and climate change present additional challenges and where agriculture is practiced primarily by small-scale farmers. Within this context, we here review science-based evidence arguing that diversification with greater use of highly valuable but presently under-valorised crops and species should be an essential element of any model for sustainable smallholder agriculture. The major points of these development opportunity crops are presented in four sections: agricultural farming systems, health and nutrition, environmental sustainability and prosperity of the populations. For each section, these crops and their associated indigenous knowledge are reported to bring benefits and services when integrated with food systems. In this paper, we conclude that not only a change in policy is needed to influence behaviours and practices but also strong leadership able to synergize the various initiatives and implement an action plan. (Résumé d'auteur

Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems

“…In contrast to the above-mentioned major staple crops, underutilized, undervalued or neglected crops-also branded development opportunity crops (DOCs) [27]-are categorized in this article as -minor crops‖ that are already cultivated, but are underutilized regionally or globally given their still relatively low global production and market value [20,28,29]. Some of these crop species may be widely distributed globally, but are restricted to a more local production and consumption system.…”

Variation of some chemical and functional properties of Bambara groundnut (Voandzeia Subterranean L. Thouars) during sort time storage

“…Diets of developing countries are frequently deficient in macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fat), micronutrients or both (Brabin & Coulter, 2003). Although, in common with other legumes, Bambara is deficient in sulphur-containing amino acids (Azam-Ali et al, 2001;Mayes et al, 2012), some genotypes contain higher amounts of methionine and lysine than is found in other legumes (National Research Council, 2006;Kahane et al, 2013). Bambara groundnut is known to come in a variety of colors.…”

Agricultural Biodiversity in Southern Brazil: Integrating Efforts for Conservation and Use of Neglected and Underutilized Species

“…The fact that only 30 or so plant species feed the world today has been highly stigmatized in recent years: the narrowing of our food security basket makes food systems more vulnerable to shocks of different nature, which is particularly severe for the poor whose livelihood options are dramatically reduced [2,3].…”