Addressing constraints in promoting wild edible plants’ utilization in household nutrition: case of the Congo Basin forest area

- Ngome, Precillia Ijang Tata, Shackleton, Charlie M, Degrande, Anne, Tieguhong, Julius Chupezi

Title
Addressing constraints in promoting wild edible plants’ utilization in household nutrition: case of the Congo Basin forest area
Creator
Ngome, Precillia Ijang Tata, Shackleton, Charlie M, Degrande, Anne, Tieguhong, Julius Chupezi
Date
2017
Type
article
Type
text
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60822
Identifier
vital:27836
Identifier
DOI 10.1186/s40066-017-0097-5
Description
It is worth raising the question, why are wild edible plants (WEPs) which are rich in diverse nutrients and widely abundant underutilized despite the increasing rate of undernourishment in poor regions? One reason is that their culinary uses are not quantified and standardized in nutrition surveys, and therefore, they are not properly included in household diet intensification and diversification across regions and cultures. Active steps are needed to bridge this gap. This paper outlines the constraints to including WEPs in nutritional surveys as the lack of standard ways of food identification of diverse WEPs, lack of specific food categorization and therefore difficult dissemination across regions and cultures. As a way forward, a functional categorization of 11 subgroups for WEPs is introduced and discussed. In labeling these sub-food groups, the paper advocates that more WEPs food items and culinary uses should be enlisted during household nutrition surveys. Food researchers could then capitalize these enlisted species and disseminate them to promote diverse food use of WEPs in other regions where they exist but are not utilized as food.
Format
10 pages, pdf
Language
English
Relation
Agriculture & Food Security, Ngome, P.I.T., Shackleton, C., Degrande, A. and Tieguhong, J.C., 2017. Addressing constraints in promoting wild edible plants’ utilization in household nutrition: case of the Congo Basin forest area. Agriculture & Food Security, 6(1), p.20, Agriculture & Food Security 6 vol. 1 no. 1 10 2017 2048-7010
Rights
Copyright held by the authors
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Collections

RU DST/NRF SARChI for Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods
RU Department of Environmental Science
Shackleton, Charles Michael (Distinguished Prof)
SDG 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 02. Zero Hunger
SDG 01. No Poverty
SDG 15. Life On Land
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