Articles
Vegetable research matters for Africa
Article number
1348_1
Pages
1 – 14
Language
English
Abstract
Africas population faces high rates of malnutrition caused by poor diets.
Vegetables can contribute to improving the quality of diets by supplying vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, proteins and dietary fiber.
However, mean vegetable consumption in Africa is far below recommended intake.
A food systems framework is used to discuss knowledge gaps and research priorities to enhance vegetable production and consumption, leading to healthier diets but also to jobs and income opportunities in particular for women and youth.
This will require a thorough understanding of vegetable supply chains, food environments, dietary gaps, and consumer behavior, as well as external drivers such as climate change, urbanization, and policy.
Making vegetables more available and affordable will require technological and organizational innovations along the supply chain, from seed to retail, and strong public-private sector partnerships.
Vegetable productivity suffers from poor seed quality, non-adapted cultivars, suboptimal production practices, lack of protected cultivation technology, and pest and disease attacks exacerbated by climate change.
Postharvest losses are rising due to underinvestment in storage, food processing, and market infrastructure.
Consumer behavior needs to be better understood; some consumer segments have a low acceptance of vegetables due to food safety concerns, high preferences for animal-based foods, or a lack of knowledge about nutrition and health.
There is an urgent need to diversify food systems with nutritious vegetables, which will lead to favorable and lasting dietary, economic, and environmental outcomes at scale.
Given the rapid urbanization across the continent, this is particularly important near cities.
Vegetable research clearly matters for Africa.
To fully tap the economic and nutritional power of vegetables, these crops need to be given much greater priority than they currently receive.
A special effort is needed to get traditional, sturdy, and nutrient-dense African vegetables back in farmers fields and on the menu.
Vegetables can contribute to improving the quality of diets by supplying vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, proteins and dietary fiber.
However, mean vegetable consumption in Africa is far below recommended intake.
A food systems framework is used to discuss knowledge gaps and research priorities to enhance vegetable production and consumption, leading to healthier diets but also to jobs and income opportunities in particular for women and youth.
This will require a thorough understanding of vegetable supply chains, food environments, dietary gaps, and consumer behavior, as well as external drivers such as climate change, urbanization, and policy.
Making vegetables more available and affordable will require technological and organizational innovations along the supply chain, from seed to retail, and strong public-private sector partnerships.
Vegetable productivity suffers from poor seed quality, non-adapted cultivars, suboptimal production practices, lack of protected cultivation technology, and pest and disease attacks exacerbated by climate change.
Postharvest losses are rising due to underinvestment in storage, food processing, and market infrastructure.
Consumer behavior needs to be better understood; some consumer segments have a low acceptance of vegetables due to food safety concerns, high preferences for animal-based foods, or a lack of knowledge about nutrition and health.
There is an urgent need to diversify food systems with nutritious vegetables, which will lead to favorable and lasting dietary, economic, and environmental outcomes at scale.
Given the rapid urbanization across the continent, this is particularly important near cities.
Vegetable research clearly matters for Africa.
To fully tap the economic and nutritional power of vegetables, these crops need to be given much greater priority than they currently receive.
A special effort is needed to get traditional, sturdy, and nutrient-dense African vegetables back in farmers fields and on the menu.
Publication
Authors
M.C.S. Wopereis, C.G. Kuo
Keywords
sub-Saharan Africa, malnutrition, food systems, vegetables, micronutrients, diets
Groups involved
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Commission Banana
- Commission Cultivar Registration
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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