Short answer
Integrate underutilized indigenous crops into food system design to build resilience and improve nutritional outcomes.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2023)
- Method
- Literature Review
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Diversifying food sources with underutilized indigenous crops can significantly enhance food and nutrition security, particularly in regions facing import dependency and climate vulnerability. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. Using Literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate underutilized indigenous crops into food system design to build resilience and improve nutritional outcomes.
Harnessing Neglected Crops for Sustainable Food Systems
Diversifying food sources with underutilized indigenous crops can significantly enhance food and nutrition security, particularly in regions facing import dependency and climate vulnerability.
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Neglected and underutilized species (NUS) possess high nutritional value and medicinal properties.
- 02Various political, socio-cultural, and infrastructural factors hinder the commercialization and utilization of NUS.
- 03Diversifying food sources with NUS can mitigate risks associated with reliance on a few major crops.
Application
Design takeaway
Integrate underutilized indigenous crops into food system design to build resilience and improve nutritional outcomes.
How to apply
Investigate local underutilized crops in a specific region and identify design opportunities for their processing, packaging, and marketing to enhance local food security.
Project actions
- 01When researching a product, consider local, underutilized resources that could be more sustainable.
- 02Investigate the cultural significance and traditional uses of local ingredients.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive review of existing literature on NUS.
- +Focus on specific regional contexts (Nigeria and Uganda).
Limitations
The availability and scalability of processing technologies for underutilized crops might be a practical challenge.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of this review depends on the quality and breadth of the literature it synthesizes. Validity is enhanced by its focus on specific, context-relevant crops and issues.
Think critically
To what extent can the commercialization of NUS overcome socio-cultural barriers and infrastructure limitations in diverse regions?
Design Principles
"Promote biodiversity in food systems by valuing and integrating neglected and underutilized species."
Relying on a narrow range of staple crops makes food systems vulnerable to global shocks and climate change. Integrating neglected and underutilized species (NUS) offers a pathway to more resilient, nutritious, and locally-adapted food production, supporting both human well-being and ecological balance.
What This Means for Your Design
Using local, less common foods can make our food supply stronger and healthier, especially when global food is hard to get.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the selection of specific materials or ingredients in your design, highlighting their sustainability and nutritional benefits.
- 2.Reference the challenges of relying on monocultures and the benefits of diversification.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This review highlights the critical need to diversify food systems by incorporating neglected and underutilized species (NUS) to enhance food and nutrition security. The study's findings on the nutritional potential of crops like African walnut and pigeon pea, alongside the identified barriers to their commercialization, provide a strong rationale for design interventions aimed at improving processing, accessibility, and market integration of such resources.
Source
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Underutilised food crops for improving food security and nutrition health in Nigeria and Uganda—a review
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about harnessing neglected crops for sustainable food systems?
- Integrate underutilized indigenous crops into food system design to build resilience and improve nutritional outcomes. Evidence: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2023).
- Why does "Harnessing Neglected Crops for Sustainable Food Systems" matter for design?
- Relying on a narrow range of staple crops makes food systems vulnerable to global shocks and climate change. Integrating neglected and underutilized species (NUS) offers a pathway to more resilient, nutritious, and locally-adapted food production, supporting both human well-being and ecological balance.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Integrate underutilized indigenous crops into food system design to build resilience and improve nutritional outcomes.
- What were the main findings?
- Neglected and underutilized species (NUS) possess high nutritional value and medicinal properties.. Various political, socio-cultural, and infrastructural factors hinder the commercialization and utilization of NUS.. Diversifying food sources with NUS can mitigate risks associated with reliance on a few major crops.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Investigate local underutilized crops in a specific region and identify design opportunities for their processing, packaging, and marketing to enhance local food security.
- What are the limitations?
- The review focuses on a limited selection of NUS and specific regions; broader research is needed for wider applicability.