Cacti: fundamentals, facts, food and fodder for future farming

Not only has the FAO of the UN recently declared nopal cactus as an outstanding source in the search for sustainable food, but also as an invaluable source of food, forage and water for an ever-growing population.
Since it can thrive in arid climates, cactus is now recognised as being on the forefront in the quest for food security and is globally recognised as “green gold”. It is much more than a sustainable future food source, but also a source of water, especially for animals, with fresh water being the “blue gold”, to combat livestock mortality.
Cactus can improve and replenish used and damaged soils, create healthy soil microbiomes which, in turn, increase the yield of other crops.
It combats desertification and is used to enhance the restoration of vegetative cover.
It yields large volumes of biomass in conditions unsuitable for conventional crop production (poor soil, little water and hot temperatures). Additionally, cactus crops remove carbon from the atmosphere, act as a carbon sink and store carbon in a sustainable manner to provide bio-energy.
Cactus pear is a multi-functional crop, being used in a wide array of industries and sectors.
It impacts social, economic and environmental conditions and practices.
In this paper, the current global, and specifically African, picture in terms of cacti interests, problems such as invasiveness, and applications, are drawn to enlighten society, on various levels, on the immense potential and applications of cactus pears.

XI International Congress on Cacti as Food, Fodder and Other Uses

M. de Wit

arid, climate, economy, food, fodder, security, sustainability, water

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1452.1