Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition
Rapid population growth, climate change, intensive monoculture farming, and resource depletion are among the challenges that threaten the increasingly vulnerable global agri-food system. Heavy reliance on a few major crops is also linked to a monotonous diet, poor dietary habits, and micronutrient d...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-12-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.601496/full |
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English |
format |
Article |
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DOAJ |
author |
Xin Lin Tan Xin Lin Tan Susan Azam-Ali Susan Azam-Ali Ee Von Goh Ee Von Goh Maysoun Mustafa Maysoun Mustafa Hui Hui Chai Hui Hui Chai Wai Kuan Ho Wai Kuan Ho Sean Mayes Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi Sayed Azam-Ali Festo Massawe Festo Massawe |
spellingShingle |
Xin Lin Tan Xin Lin Tan Susan Azam-Ali Susan Azam-Ali Ee Von Goh Ee Von Goh Maysoun Mustafa Maysoun Mustafa Hui Hui Chai Hui Hui Chai Wai Kuan Ho Wai Kuan Ho Sean Mayes Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi Sayed Azam-Ali Festo Massawe Festo Massawe Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition Frontiers in Nutrition Bambara groundnut legume food security nutrition underutilized crops dietary diversification |
author_facet |
Xin Lin Tan Xin Lin Tan Susan Azam-Ali Susan Azam-Ali Ee Von Goh Ee Von Goh Maysoun Mustafa Maysoun Mustafa Hui Hui Chai Hui Hui Chai Wai Kuan Ho Wai Kuan Ho Sean Mayes Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi Sayed Azam-Ali Festo Massawe Festo Massawe |
author_sort |
Xin Lin Tan |
title |
Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition |
title_short |
Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition |
title_full |
Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition |
title_fullStr |
Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition |
title_full_unstemmed |
Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition |
title_sort |
bambara groundnut: an underutilized leguminous crop for global food security and nutrition |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Nutrition |
issn |
2296-861X |
publishDate |
2020-12-01 |
description |
Rapid population growth, climate change, intensive monoculture farming, and resource depletion are among the challenges that threaten the increasingly vulnerable global agri-food system. Heavy reliance on a few major crops is also linked to a monotonous diet, poor dietary habits, and micronutrient deficiencies, which are often associated with diet-related diseases. Diversification—of both agricultural production systems and diet—is a practical and sustainable approach to address these challenges and to improve global food and nutritional security. This strategy is aligned with the recommendations from the EAT-Lancet report, which highlighted the urgent need for increased consumption of plant-based foods to sustain population and planetary health. Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), an underutilized African legume, has the potential to contribute to improved food and nutrition security, while providing solutions for environmental sustainability and equity in food availability and affordability. This paper discusses the potential role of Bambara groundnut in diversifying agri-food systems and contributing to enhanced dietary and planetary sustainability, with emphasis on areas that span the value chain: from genetics, agroecology, nutrition, processing, and utilization, through to its socioeconomic potential. Bambara groundnut is a sustainable, low-cost source of complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and essential minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium), especially for those living in arid and semi-arid regions. As a legume, Bambara groundnut fixes atmospheric nitrogen to improve soil fertility. It is resilient to adverse environmental conditions and can yield on poor soil. Despite its impressive nutritional and agroecological profile, the potential of Bambara groundnut in improving the global food system is undermined by several factors, including resource limitation, knowledge gap, social stigma, and lack of policy incentives. Multiple research efforts to address these hurdles have led to a more promising outlook for Bambara groundnut; however, there is an urgent need to continue research to realize its full potential. |
topic |
Bambara groundnut legume food security nutrition underutilized crops dietary diversification |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.601496/full |
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doaj-6c5784ef2a3c4e7f8168b899be86a57c2020-12-10T05:16:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2020-12-01710.3389/fnut.2020.601496601496Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and NutritionXin Lin Tan0Xin Lin Tan1Susan Azam-Ali2Susan Azam-Ali3Ee Von Goh4Ee Von Goh5Maysoun Mustafa6Maysoun Mustafa7Hui Hui Chai8Hui Hui Chai9Wai Kuan Ho10Wai Kuan Ho11Sean Mayes12Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi13Sayed Azam-Ali14Festo Massawe15Festo Massawe16Future Food Beacon Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaFuture Food Beacon Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaFuture Food Beacon Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaFuture Food Beacon Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaFuture Food Beacon Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaFuture Food Beacon Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaPlant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, United KingdomCenter for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South AfricaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaFuture Food Beacon Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, MalaysiaRapid population growth, climate change, intensive monoculture farming, and resource depletion are among the challenges that threaten the increasingly vulnerable global agri-food system. Heavy reliance on a few major crops is also linked to a monotonous diet, poor dietary habits, and micronutrient deficiencies, which are often associated with diet-related diseases. Diversification—of both agricultural production systems and diet—is a practical and sustainable approach to address these challenges and to improve global food and nutritional security. This strategy is aligned with the recommendations from the EAT-Lancet report, which highlighted the urgent need for increased consumption of plant-based foods to sustain population and planetary health. Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), an underutilized African legume, has the potential to contribute to improved food and nutrition security, while providing solutions for environmental sustainability and equity in food availability and affordability. This paper discusses the potential role of Bambara groundnut in diversifying agri-food systems and contributing to enhanced dietary and planetary sustainability, with emphasis on areas that span the value chain: from genetics, agroecology, nutrition, processing, and utilization, through to its socioeconomic potential. Bambara groundnut is a sustainable, low-cost source of complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and essential minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium), especially for those living in arid and semi-arid regions. As a legume, Bambara groundnut fixes atmospheric nitrogen to improve soil fertility. It is resilient to adverse environmental conditions and can yield on poor soil. Despite its impressive nutritional and agroecological profile, the potential of Bambara groundnut in improving the global food system is undermined by several factors, including resource limitation, knowledge gap, social stigma, and lack of policy incentives. Multiple research efforts to address these hurdles have led to a more promising outlook for Bambara groundnut; however, there is an urgent need to continue research to realize its full potential.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.601496/fullBambara groundnutlegumefood securitynutritionunderutilized cropsdietary diversification |