Articles
Underutilized species and the use of biodiversity for rural and industrial development
Article number
1460_2
Pages
11 – 22
Language
English
Abstract
Germplasm from centers of major crops diversity have supported breeding programs globally.
The diversity sourced from those centers has represented immense economic gains for the seed industry and countries where major crops are vital for their economy.
However, underutilized crops are still to benefit from a rationale use of existing biodiversity.
There have been very few initiatives aimed at using that diversity for the benefit of the local food and agri-business communities.
Local communities are not only the trustees of the in situ germplasm preservation, but they hold a wealth of knowledge for the underutilized crops and their uses.
Globalization of trade and communication could open the door to bringing combinations of genetics/processing/ uses to consumers that are increasingly open to diversifying their diets.
Similar, advances in testing, genetics, and economic extraction of secondary metabolites could enable the use of underutilized crops as novel food ingredients, new medicinal uses, or material components.
All these factors are resulting in a new dynamic around novel species, which could pave the way for a healthy evolution of underutilized plant diversity for future uses.
This review addresses an initiative to support the development of farming communities in regions that are rich in biodiversity of underutilized African indigenous leafy greens, and a parallel initiative to explore secondary metabolite for novel products, in selected underutilized African species.
The diversity sourced from those centers has represented immense economic gains for the seed industry and countries where major crops are vital for their economy.
However, underutilized crops are still to benefit from a rationale use of existing biodiversity.
There have been very few initiatives aimed at using that diversity for the benefit of the local food and agri-business communities.
Local communities are not only the trustees of the in situ germplasm preservation, but they hold a wealth of knowledge for the underutilized crops and their uses.
Globalization of trade and communication could open the door to bringing combinations of genetics/processing/ uses to consumers that are increasingly open to diversifying their diets.
Similar, advances in testing, genetics, and economic extraction of secondary metabolites could enable the use of underutilized crops as novel food ingredients, new medicinal uses, or material components.
All these factors are resulting in a new dynamic around novel species, which could pave the way for a healthy evolution of underutilized plant diversity for future uses.
This review addresses an initiative to support the development of farming communities in regions that are rich in biodiversity of underutilized African indigenous leafy greens, and a parallel initiative to explore secondary metabolite for novel products, in selected underutilized African species.
Authors
C. Iglesias, T. Marconi, G. Njeri, F. Santos, P. Luck
Keywords
germplasm, neglected, novel, major crops, indigenous, African, functional ingredients
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