Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects
Abstract The diverse range of indigenous fruit trees in Africa is a source of untapped potential for food and nutrition security. Here, we review information on 10 indigenous fruit trees that are considered to be underutilized and explore their occurrence, distribution, nutritional components, phyto...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Food and Energy Security |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.220 |
| _version_ | 1818418798791753728 |
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| author | Abiodun Olusola Omotayo Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu |
| author_facet | Abiodun Olusola Omotayo Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu |
| author_sort | Abiodun Olusola Omotayo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The diverse range of indigenous fruit trees in Africa is a source of untapped potential for food and nutrition security. Here, we review information on 10 indigenous fruit trees that are considered to be underutilized and explore their occurrence, distribution, nutritional components, phytochemicals, and medicinal potentials, as well as their associated challenges and prospects. The indigenous fruit trees, which occur across different ecological zones in Africa, are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, protein, and valuable phytochemicals. They also have recognized medicinal value and used as diverse therapeutic remedies by many ethnic groups in Africa. The key challenges to fruit tree sustainability include indiscriminate and illegal logging, low accessibility, and low acceptability, as well as inadequate research on their cultivation. We proposed a scheme to increase the value chain of underutilized fruit trees, which can contribute to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and other stakeholders mainly through income generation. In addition to the concerted efforts of multidisciplinary research teams encompassing plant breeders, botanists, molecular biologists, food scientists, and horticulturists, there is an urgent need for governments and other international stakeholders to provide incentives and encourage the domestication, commercialization, and agro‐processing of underutilized fruit trees for future economic prosperity of Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:28:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ebc1395003ad41d8b74b8169853474db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-3694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:28:24Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food and Energy Security |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebc1395003ad41d8b74b8169853474db2022-12-21T23:01:16ZengWileyFood and Energy Security2048-36942020-08-0193n/an/a10.1002/fes3.220Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospectsAbiodun Olusola Omotayo0Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu1Food Security and Safety Niche Area Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences North‐West University Mmabatho North West Province South AfricaFood Security and Safety Niche Area Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences North‐West University Mmabatho North West Province South AfricaAbstract The diverse range of indigenous fruit trees in Africa is a source of untapped potential for food and nutrition security. Here, we review information on 10 indigenous fruit trees that are considered to be underutilized and explore their occurrence, distribution, nutritional components, phytochemicals, and medicinal potentials, as well as their associated challenges and prospects. The indigenous fruit trees, which occur across different ecological zones in Africa, are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, protein, and valuable phytochemicals. They also have recognized medicinal value and used as diverse therapeutic remedies by many ethnic groups in Africa. The key challenges to fruit tree sustainability include indiscriminate and illegal logging, low accessibility, and low acceptability, as well as inadequate research on their cultivation. We proposed a scheme to increase the value chain of underutilized fruit trees, which can contribute to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and other stakeholders mainly through income generation. In addition to the concerted efforts of multidisciplinary research teams encompassing plant breeders, botanists, molecular biologists, food scientists, and horticulturists, there is an urgent need for governments and other international stakeholders to provide incentives and encourage the domestication, commercialization, and agro‐processing of underutilized fruit trees for future economic prosperity of Africa.https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.220agro‐processingethno‐medicinefood securityhidden hungerlivelihoodphenolics |
| spellingShingle | Abiodun Olusola Omotayo Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects Food and Energy Security agro‐processing ethno‐medicine food security hidden hunger livelihood phenolics |
| title | Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects |
| title_full | Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects |
| title_fullStr | Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects |
| title_short | Underutilized African indigenous fruit trees and food–nutrition security: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects |
| title_sort | underutilized african indigenous fruit trees and food nutrition security opportunities challenges and prospects |
| topic | agro‐processing ethno‐medicine food security hidden hunger livelihood phenolics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.220 |
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