Ethnobotany of Breadfruit in Vanuatu: Review and Prospects

Abstract

Breadfruit is a traditional staple crop and an important component of Pacific Island agrosystems. This article reviews documentation related to breadfruit in Vanuatu with a focus on ethnobotanical data recorded from the first contacts with European voyagers and missionaries to the most recent survey conducted on several islands in 2009. Tree management practices, food and non-food uses, conservation techniques, as well as ritual magic intended to increase yields and protect the crop, are described. A database of 539 cultivar names has been compiled. Some lines for future research within the social and biological sciences are proposed.

Assessing the Productivity and Socioeconomic Feasibility of Cocoyam and Teak Agroforestry for Food Security

“…Cocoyam is a viable food commodity that has an appreciable nutritional profile and higher productivity and better storability than other indigenous roots and tubers, as well as having potential for development as a sustainable food security measure [28,36] because it is not tied to the seasons [37]. Further, cocoyam is a potential substitute for rice because it is rich in carbohydrates [38] and has a low glycemic index (54/100 g) [28], as well as containing antioxidants [39].…”

Artocarpus altilis and Pandanus tectorius: Two Important Fruits of Oceania with Medicinal Values

“…Breadfruit is an important staple food that is eaten raw, boiled, steamed or roasted (Ragone, 2006(Ragone, , 2011Labouisse, 2016). Most of the trees are grown for subsistence with small quantities of the fruits sold in town markets.…”

“…In Oceania, the light hardwood of A. altilis is used for building houses and canoes, and is often carved into ornaments and utensils (Ragone, 2011;Labouisse, 2016). Old trees are felled for firewood.…”

“…Islanders have selected, grown and named hundreds of cultivars that can be distinguished by their fruits (shape, size, weight, seasonality, skin texture, flesh colour and presence or absence of seeds) and leaves (shape, size and colour). In Vanuatu alone, more than 500 cultivars of A. altilis have been identified (Labouisse, 2016).…”