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1011. The Potential of Climate-Resilient Traditional Food Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

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1011. The Potential of Climate-Resilient Traditional Food Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

 

As climate change progresses, the productivity of staple food crops in Sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to be significantly affected. There are growing expectations for the diversification of cropping systems that utilize climate change-resilient Neglected and Underutilised Plant Species (NUS). A paper by World Vegetable Center researchers that recently won PNAS's 2023 Cozzarelli Prize shows that diversifying food production using NUS has the potential to improve climate resilience and nutritional status in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The authors used climate niche models to estimate the potential of 138 traditional food crops in sub-Saharan Africa to complement staple crops through cropping system diversification. The analysis shows that while it is predicted that climate change will make it difficult to produce staple food crops in about 10% of sub-Saharan Africa by 2070, it is possible to supplement essential micronutrients by introducing NUS into a cropping system with staple crops. In particular, they identified 58 traditional crops. The paper argues that compared to staple food crops, little research investment has been made into NUS, emphasizing the importance of NUS research as a ‘double win’ that can contribute to improving climate resilience and addressing nutritional challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.


Reference:
Maarten van Zonneveld et al. 2023.  Forgotten food crops in sub-Saharan Africa for healthy diets in a changing climate. March 27, 2023, 120 (14) e2205794120 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.22057941


Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Information Program) 
 

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