Food Security and Nutrition: Utilizing Undervalued Food Plants

Food Security and Nutrition: Utilizing Undervalued Food Plants explores the potential of underutilized and indigenous food plants to enhance food and nutrition security amid global challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and population growth. It emphasizes the importance of dietary diversification to reduce dependency on major staple crops, highlighting the nutritional and health benefits of lesser-known crops such as fonio, pigeonpea, finger millet and a wide array of wild vegetables and mushrooms. The book reviews innovative farming techniques like the Organic Medium-Enclosed Trough system and hydroponics, which improve crop yield and nutrient content while conserving resources. Additionally, it addresses the commercialization potential of indigenous fruits and wild herbal teas, emphasizing their market value and health benefits. The book also discusses the reduction of goitrogenic compounds in certain crops to mitigate health risks.

By examining the unique nutritional profiles and local adaptability of these crops, the book advocates for their broader use to build a more resilient and sustainable food system. Through a combination of scientific research, practical farming methods, and market strategies, the book aims to promote food diversity, improve health outcomes, and support sustainable agricultural practices.

Key Features

• Highlights the critical role of dietary diversification in reducing dependency on major staple crops, advocating for the inclusion of lesser-known, nutrient-rich plants to improve overall health and nutrition.
• Introduces cutting-edge farming methods such as the Organic Medium-Enclosed Trough system and hydroponics
• Explores the market value and health benefits of indigenous fruits and wild herbal teas, offering strategies for their commercialization to boost local economies and food security.
• Addresses the reduction of harmful compounds and provides practical solutions to mitigate associated health risks and enhance the safety of food consumption.

Dr Callistus Bvenura graduated with a BSc in Natural Resources Management and Agriculture in 2006 from the Midlands State University, Zimbabwe and completed his PhD Ethnobotany from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa in 2014. His areas of specialization encompass interdisciplinary research at the intersection of plant biology, ethnobotany, food science, agriculture, and public health, with a focus on promoting sustainable food and nutrition security through the utilization of diverse plant resources. Callistus’ research profile is comprehensive, including co-edited books, numerous peer reviewed research articles, book chapters and review papers in these focus areas and is constantly presenting his research findings at local and international conferences. In addition, he has interests in product development where he and his fellow colleagues developed Niselo, a probiotic sorghum beverage which has since then been commercialized in South Africa and the United Kingdom. He is also part of a team that developed broiler chicken feed using indigenous and underutilized grains and insects. Furthermore, he is a South African National Research Foundation rated researcher and panel expert reviewer. Dr Bvenura is also an editorial board member of the Journal of Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (JOMPED) and reviews for several local and international journals.

Prof Learnmore Kambizi attained his BSc degree from Cuba in 1998 before enrolling for Masters and PhD degrees at the University of Fort Hare which he completed in 2004. His PhD focused on Ethnobotanical studies of plants used for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in South Africa. He went on to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship within the fields of Ethnobotany & Phytomedicine. This discipline enabled him to realise his passion for sustainable utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants on a local and international level. He worked as a Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe in 2005 before moving to the University of the Free State, South Africa in 2007. In the same year, he was appointed by Walter Sisulu University as a Senior lecturer until 2011. He moved to Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa where he is now a Full Professor of Botany. In his academic journey to date, he has hosted 4 postdoctoral fellows and supervised 5 PhD, 16 master’s and numerous Honours students. In addition, he has edited and published a book, published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals and presented at many national and international conferences. He recently edited a book titled ＂Sustainable uses and prospects of medicinal plants＂. He is a South African National Research Foundation rated researcher. Prof Kambizi has also served as a panel member of the National Research Foundation of South Africa and has received many research grants to support post graduate students and to assist communities. He also collaborates with Traditional Medical Practitioners in collaboration with the South African Research Council as an advisor. In addition, Prof Kambizi was appointed the first Director of African Centre for Herbal Research based in Nigeria, a position he holds to date. He is a reviewer of many national and international journals.