Indigenous crops a critical piece of South Africa's nutrition security puzzle

Abstract

Although our planet boasts 300,000 known edible plant species, 60% of humanity's Although our planet boasts 300,000 known edible plant species, 60% of humanity's plant-based calories are derived from just three crops. In South Africa and other parts of the developing world, obesity is on the rise alongside malnourishment, a phenomenon dubbed "hidden hunger". The HSRC's Peter Jacobs argued at the 2022 World Science Forum that we need to take a broader approach to addressing food and nutrition insecurity. Crop expert Tafadzwa Mabhaudbi from the University of KwaZulu-Natal argued that diversifying our crops with indigenous plant species is critical for the health of our communities - and our planet. By Andrea Teagle plant-based calories are derived from just three crops. In South Africa and other parts of the developing world, obesity is on the rise alongside malnourishment, a phenomenon dubbed "hidden hunger". The HSRC's Peter Jacobs argued at the 2022 World Science Forum that we need to take a broader approach to addressing food and nutrition insecurity. Crop expert Tafadzwa Mabhaudbi from the University of KwaZulu-Natal argued that diversifying our crops with indigenous plant species is critical for the health of our communities - and our planet. By Andrea Teagle