__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Food
Security
HIDDEN
HUNGER
The forgotten crops that could end micronutrient malnutrition By Anna Rosales
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization ’ s most recent State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report , almost 30 percent of the global population experiences moderate or severe food insecurity . That ’ s approximately 2.4 billion people who struggle to access enough safe and nutritious food to live a healthy life . Clearly , something needs to change .
Progress has been made since the mid- 20th century , with increased production of high-yield staple crops like wheat , rice , corn , and potatoes that have helped to reduce global hunger , contributing about 60 percent of calories consumed worldwide . However , one downside of overreliance on a relatively small number of crops is the lack of variety and the resultant rise of micronutrient malnutrition , commonly known as hidden hunger .
Hidden hunger occurs when individuals are deficient in important micronutrients like zinc , iron , and B12 . While staple crops help feed our world , they don ’ t include all the necessary micronutrients required to support a healthy lifestyle .
A potential solution to the hidden hunger crisis ? Underutilized and biofortified crops . Only 170 plants are currently cultivated on a commercial scale , yet there are an estimated 30,000 edible plant species around the globe . That leaves tens of thousands of plants that have the potential to help feed the world but aren ’ t currently produced at scale . Underutilized crops are generally wild or semidomesticated plants that are grown natively , but are often overlooked by researchers , food manufacturers , and policymakers .
Several types of crops are underutilized , including grains and pseudocereals , legumes / pulses , roots / tubers , fruits / vegetables , and nuts and seeds . While some underutilized crops , like flax and purple yams , have made their mainstream debut via food trends , regular consumption is typically only seen in traditional diets . Other underutilized crops such as roselle , baobab , and Bambara groundnut are completely unfamiliar to most populations .
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