While we rely on just a handful of crops to feed the world, the authors explain that thousands of edible plants are effectively hidden in plain sight, waiting to help solve the global food crisis.
As our population grows, the researchers point out that humanity is facing a double challenge of both hunger and obesity. They argue that biodiversity is essential to addressing this, though it requires a much deeper understanding of the food resources available to us globally.
According to the study, there are at least 7,039 edible plant species, which stands in a huge contrast to the small number of crops that currently provide most of our calories and nutrients. The authors note that most of these species are multipurpose, frequently used for medicine, building materials, or environmental protection.
While major food crops are concentrated in specific centers of diversity, the researchers find that other edible plants follow natural biodiversity patterns, with the highest variety found near the equator. Even though many of these species are being preserved in conservation banks, the authors highlight that at least 11% of them are currently threatened with extinction.
To move forward, the study suggests focusing on these neglected and underutilized species to spark a new, community-driven “green revolution” that is more resilient and sustainable. They also explore how fungi could help diversify our diets and increase nutritional value.
Ultimately, the authors conclude that these plants and the traditional knowledge surrounding them are a massive untapped resource for food security, but unlocking them will require much stronger collaboration between all stakeholders.
Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10145
Reference:
Ulian, T., Diazgranados, M., Pironon, S., Padulosi, S., Liu, U., Davies, L., Howes, M. R., Borrell, J. S., Ondo, I., Pérez‐Escobar, O. A., Sharrock, S., Ryan, P., Hunter, D., Lee, M. A., Barstow, C., Łuczaj, Ł., Pieroni, A., Cámara‐Leret, R., Noorani, A., … Mattana, E. (2020). Unlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agriculture. PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET, 2(5), 421–445.