Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific
Pacific Islanders have paid dearly for abandoning traditional diets, with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) widespread. Starchy root crops like sweet potato, taro, and cassava are difficult to grow on the potassium-deficient soils of atolls, and high energy, low nutrient imported fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/942 |
| _version_ | 1797561364411056128 |
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| author | Graham Lyons Geoff Dean Routan Tongaiaba Siosiua Halavatau Kabuati Nakabuta Matio Lonalona Gibson Susumu |
| author_facet | Graham Lyons Geoff Dean Routan Tongaiaba Siosiua Halavatau Kabuati Nakabuta Matio Lonalona Gibson Susumu |
| author_sort | Graham Lyons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pacific Islanders have paid dearly for abandoning traditional diets, with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) widespread. Starchy root crops like sweet potato, taro, and cassava are difficult to grow on the potassium-deficient soils of atolls, and high energy, low nutrient imported foods and drinks are popular. Nutritious, leafy food plants adapted to alkaline, salty, coral soils could form part of a food system strategy to reduce NCD rates. This project targeted four atolls south of Tarawa, Kiribati, and was later extended to Tuvalu. Mineral levels in diverse, local leafy food plants were compared to reveal genotype–environment interactions. Food plants varied in ability to accumulate minerals in leaves and in tolerance of mineral-deficient soils. Awareness activities which included agriculture, health, and education officers targeted atoll communities. Agriculture staff grew planting material in nurseries and provided it to farmers. Rejuvenation of abandoned giant swamp taro pits to form diversified nutritious food gardens was encouraged. Factsheets promoted the most suitable species from 24 analyzed, with multiple samples of each. These included <i>Cnidoscolus aconitifolius</i> (chaya), <i>Pseuderanthemum whartonianum</i> (ofenga), <i>Polyscias scutellaria</i> (hedge panax), and <i>Portulaca oleracea</i> (purslane). The promoted plants have been shown in other studies to have anti-NCD effects. Inclusion of the findings in school curricula and practical application in the form of demonstration school food gardens, as well as increased uptake by farmers, are needed. Further research is needed on bioavailability of minerals in plants containing phytates and tannins. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:13:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-50b62d2753394c70bf5944a3f7108c14 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:13:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-50b62d2753394c70bf5944a3f7108c142023-11-20T07:54:14ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-07-019894210.3390/plants9080942Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South PacificGraham Lyons0Geoff Dean1Routan Tongaiaba2Siosiua Halavatau3Kabuati Nakabuta4Matio Lonalona5Gibson Susumu6School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, South Australia 5064, AustraliaTasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Prospect, Tasmania 7250, AustraliaAgriculture and Livestock Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development, Tanaea, South Tarawa, KiribatiUN FAO Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, TongaAgriculture and Livestock Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development, Tanaea, South Tarawa, KiribatiDepartment of Agriculture, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment, Vaiaku, Funafuti, TuvaluGibson Susumu: Sustainable Agriculture Programme, The Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, FijiPacific Islanders have paid dearly for abandoning traditional diets, with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) widespread. Starchy root crops like sweet potato, taro, and cassava are difficult to grow on the potassium-deficient soils of atolls, and high energy, low nutrient imported foods and drinks are popular. Nutritious, leafy food plants adapted to alkaline, salty, coral soils could form part of a food system strategy to reduce NCD rates. This project targeted four atolls south of Tarawa, Kiribati, and was later extended to Tuvalu. Mineral levels in diverse, local leafy food plants were compared to reveal genotype–environment interactions. Food plants varied in ability to accumulate minerals in leaves and in tolerance of mineral-deficient soils. Awareness activities which included agriculture, health, and education officers targeted atoll communities. Agriculture staff grew planting material in nurseries and provided it to farmers. Rejuvenation of abandoned giant swamp taro pits to form diversified nutritious food gardens was encouraged. Factsheets promoted the most suitable species from 24 analyzed, with multiple samples of each. These included <i>Cnidoscolus aconitifolius</i> (chaya), <i>Pseuderanthemum whartonianum</i> (ofenga), <i>Polyscias scutellaria</i> (hedge panax), and <i>Portulaca oleracea</i> (purslane). The promoted plants have been shown in other studies to have anti-NCD effects. Inclusion of the findings in school curricula and practical application in the form of demonstration school food gardens, as well as increased uptake by farmers, are needed. Further research is needed on bioavailability of minerals in plants containing phytates and tannins.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/942atollsleafy vegetablesnon-communicable diseases (NCD)nutrition securitymineral nutrientsnatural biofortification |
| spellingShingle | Graham Lyons Geoff Dean Routan Tongaiaba Siosiua Halavatau Kabuati Nakabuta Matio Lonalona Gibson Susumu Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific Plants atolls leafy vegetables non-communicable diseases (NCD) nutrition security mineral nutrients natural biofortification |
| title | Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific |
| title_full | Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific |
| title_fullStr | Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific |
| title_full_unstemmed | Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific |
| title_short | Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific |
| title_sort | macro and micronutrients from traditional food plants could improve nutrition and reduce non communicable diseases of islanders on atolls in the south pacific |
| topic | atolls leafy vegetables non-communicable diseases (NCD) nutrition security mineral nutrients natural biofortification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/942 |
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