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Indigenous Food Plants

In any location, there will be some indigenous food plants. These are edible plants native to and characteristic of a region or country. Closely related are traditional foods, defined in an article in Ground Up magazine as “plants that formed the pre-colonial diet.” In Africa, such plants include sorghum, millet and cowpea.

Indigenous food plants can be an extremely important part of the local diet, for a number of reasons:

  • Indigenous food plants tend to be very nutritious, often more nutritious than some introduced (and perhaps more popular) plants.
  • Indigenous crops are well-adapted to the regions where they originate. They often are free of pests and diseases, and are able to grow in extremely difficult conditions (in very dry areas or in very acidic or alkaline soil, for example). Sometimes they have even come to be considered weeds!
  • The diversity provided by eating indigenous vegetables contributes to food security. Rather than relying on one food crop, a wide range of food plants are eaten and enjoyed. If one fails to grow and produce, others can be eaten instead.

People in a given area likely have some history of eating indigenous plants, though in many places such knowledge is rapidly being lost. One reason is a widespread impression, especially among younger people, that traditional varieties are ‘primitive’ or ‘old,’ and that farming is a disgraceful vocation.

  1. The Importance of Indigenous Food Plants

    20-10-2011 An important part of ECHO’s ministry is sharing information about underutilized plants. Many of the seeds in our seed bank are for crops that have not been heavily researched, but that have been found to grow well under challenging conditions and that are already important to people in some...
    Underutilized Crops Food Security Biodiversity Indigenous Food Pl...

  2. Indigenous Leafy Vegetables

    01-04-2009 If you work in a country that is not your own, chances are you sometimes wonder about which crops to grow and promote. A good first step is to find out what is already being grown in-country. It will quickly become obvious what the staple grains are. Less apparent, and often greatly...
    Leafy Vegetables Edible Leaves Indigenous Knowledge Dark Green Leafy V...

  3. Protection of Plant Genetic Resources

    Key Resource
    01-01-1998 The first section of this note focuses in on a new technology, called the ‘technology protection system’ by its developers and ‘terminator technology’ by its opponents. This technology illustrates the potential for patents to impact society at the fundamental level of food production. The...
    Plant Genetics Plant Protection Property Rights

  4. Food Plant Solutions - Publications

    A SOLUTION THAT ENDS MALNUTRITION Food Plant Solutionscreates educational materials that explain what nutritional food is, why our bodies need it and how to grow and use it. Food Plant Solutionsfocuses on what are often neglected and underutilized plants, plants that are growing in and adapted to...
    FPS Indigenous Food Pl... Food Plants FPI

  5. Sustainable Nutrition Manual, 2nd Edition (2016)

    The manual is forpeople who eat, grow or buy food and who want to improve their lives, theircommunity and the environment that they live in. It has been written for, andby, people livingin Malawi. It will show you how to eat and live better andguide you in designing a sustainablefuture. The...

  6. Never Ending Food

    In industrialized countries, we often take longevity and health for granted. When something opposes this notion, it is easy to feel threatened. In a country like Malawi, however, concepts like these are not a given. Death is as much a part of daily life as is birth. Villagers are barraged by...
    Nutrition

  7. Three Cheers for Job's Tears: Asia's Other Indigenous Grain

    01-04-2012 This article is found in ECHO Asia Note #13 Introduction In many parts of tropical Asia, especially on rainfed farms, there has been an explosion of acreage planted in maize. The increase in commercial maize production is driven by growing livestock feed demand, and is displacing many traditional...
    Asia

  8. Strengthening Informal Indigenous Seed Systems in Southeast Asia

    This article is from ECHO Asia Note #12 In 2010 the ECHO Asia Impact C enter, along with lead partner, Pennsylvania State University, and Maejo University, was awarded a CRSP Horticulture Exploratory Project grant with major support from USAID. Entitled, "Strengthening Indigenous Informal Seed...
    Asia

  9. Indigenous Plants of northern Thailand and Their Uses

    04-10-2017 Why is local food important? We will discuss a few topics related to local food: 1) Right now, local food is a trend that includes a focus on super foods, clean food, and supplements. 2) Local food touches on food sovereignty. Do we have a choice of what we eat? 3) Indigenous plants are still...
    Indigenous Food Pl... Asia

  10. Poster - Methodologies for Strengthening Informal Indigenous Vegetable Seed Systems in Northern Thailand and Cambodia

    20-01-2017
    Seed Systems

  11. Breeding Hybrid Indigenous Vegetables

    20-01-2013
    Hybrid Indigenous Food Pl... East Africa

  12. Nutritious products: Fighting food insecurity with indigenous plants

    In Niger, a social enterprise is using local plants that are resistant to the arid climate of the Sahel to produce nutritious food. The result is better incomes for farmers and a preserved environment. The nutritional value of the leaves, flowers, fruit and seeds of some 15 wild plants are being...
    NUS Underutilized Crops Nutritional Value Nutrition West Africa

  13. Towards rational utilization of indigenous plant resources

    Abstract, BioResources, 2018 The world has huge floral diversity, whereas there often is poor and irrational utilization, especially of indigenous plants and residues from agricultural processes. Trees, shrubs, and herbs can have multiple uses at different levels as medicines and sources of...
    Sudan

  14. Remote Indigenous Gardens Network

    RIG Network – working to support local food production in and by remote Indigenous communities for food security, better health, wealth and wellbeing. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land, throughout Australia and celebrate and recognise their continuing connection to...
    Indigenous Practices Indigenous Foods Local Control Australia

  15. Africa’s Indigenous Fruit Trees: A Blessing in Decline

    For probably as long as people have lived in Africa, they have eaten culturally and traditionally important indigenous fruits such as baobab, desert date, black plum, and tamarind. Farmers have been able to enjoy the fruit of these plentiful wild trees without developing any knowledge of how to...
    Propagation Fruit Trees

  16. African Indigenous Vegetables: An Overview of the Cultivated Species

    Key Resource 01-04-2000 Until the beginning of the 20th century, people in Africa depended to a significant extent on food which had its origins in Africa. A diverse range of originally wild African species was domesticated a long time ago and included rootcrops, cereals, legumes and many different vegetables. Popular...
    Indigenous crops Vegetables Africa African Indigenous...

  17. African Indigenous Vegetables Held in Limbe, Cameroon, Jan. 13-18, 1997

    01-01-1997 The workshopemphasized the need to carry out more research into Africa's own crops rather than finding ways to produce more exotic crops in a hostile environment. Three working groups were established and were asked to prioritize actions required in the near future and to advise on a policy to be...
    Indigenous crops Africa Vegetables

  18. African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture

    02-09-2009 This book provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge of the potential and challenges associated with the multiple roles, use, management and livelihood contributions of indigenous vegetables in urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. There has been growing research and policy effort...
    Urban Agriculture Vegetables-Africa Endemic Plants-Africa

  19. Cooking with Traditional Leafy Vegetables: Indigenous Plants in Tanzania's Kitchen

    The book encourages more Tanzanians to use local varieties of vegetables in their cooking. It describes the preparation techniques as well as the health and nutritional values of traditional vegetables. Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity 49 pages, illustrated
    Cooking-Tanzania Leafy Vegetables

  20. Discovering Indigenous Treasures: Promising Indigenous Vegetables from Around the World

    01-01-2009 Indigenous vegetables have been used for ages by local communities. However, many are underutilized because their value is not appreciated, particularly in regions where the plants are not native. This book attempts to narrow the knowledge gap. It is meant for consumers who would benefit from...
    Plant DIversity Co... Endemic plants Vegetable gardening

  21. Handbook of indigenous fermented foods

    14-11-1995 In feeding themselves with perishable-prone supplies, rural societies have resorted to fermenting corn, rice, and milk to produce foods of nutritional value for local consumption. For example, in Zhengzhou, China, microbial fermentation of bean curd, by concentrating the protein conten of the...
    Fermentation

  22. Indigenous Knowledge of Edible Tree Products - The Mungomu Tree in Central Mozambique

    01-01-2005 24 pages, illustrated, photos Links Project: gender, biodiversity and local knowledge systems for food security Report No. 40
    Mungomu Tree Trees Mozambique Edible

  23. Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization

    Key Resource 10-12-2007 It has been recognized that an important factor in improving the viability of rural livelihoods in developing countries is the promotion of sustainable agriculture. As opposed to relying solely on cash crops, this can be more easily achieved through the domestication of various indigenous fruit...
    Tropical Trees Tree crops Tropical Fruit Tree Endem

  24. Indigenous Vegetables in Tanzania: Significance and Prospects

    01-01-2004 The purpose of this study is to provide recommendations for enhancing the role of indigenous vegetables for improved nutrition, healthy diet, and diversified income generation in home garden production and commercial farming systems in Tanzania. The study uses a multidisciplinary approach to...
    Vegetables Tanzania Indigenous crops

  25. Tropical Vegetables Vegetable: Growing in the Tropics and Subtropics Especially of Indigenous Vegetables

    01-01-1966 This volume presents numberous data on locally available sources for improving the diet and by recommending and describing methods that are not beyond the capacity of the rural population.
    Vegetables Tropical Vegetables

  26. Wild Gardens for Improved Nutrition and Income

    05-08-2018
    Wild Food Wild Garden Gardening Health and Nutrition Income Generating ... Asia

  27. Foods of Plant Origin

    01-01-2020 It is now well accepted that the consumption of plant-based foods is beneficial to human health. Fruits, vegetables, grains, and derived products can be excellent sources of minerals, vitamins, and fiber and usually have a favorable nutrient-to-energy ratio. Furthermore, plant foods are also a...
    Food Plants Foods MDPI Origin Studies Open Access Books Downloads

  28. Investigacion y Propagacion de Especies Nativas en los Andes

    01-01-1992 La presente publicacion da cuenta de esta inedita experiencia en el manejo, germinacion y produccion de especies nativeas en vivero, desarrolladas por cerca de doce anos. Nuestro interes, como con otras publicaciones del CAAP, es el de aportar, tanto al conocimiento tecnologico, como a la...
    Native Plant Species Native Plants Indigenous Food Pl... Plant Management Andes Plant Propagation Spanish Language

  29. Lightning Talk - Indigenous Foods for Resilience

    Lightning Talk, ECHOEast Africa Pastoralist Symposium, March 29, 2022. Presenter: Hannah Longole, Executive Director Ateker Cultural Center, Uganda
    Indigenous Food Pl... Resilience Indigenous Foods ECHO Conference East Africa

  30. AFSA - My Food Is African: Healthy Soil, Safe Foods And Diverse Diets

    This book explains why our African diet has so many health benefits. It contains examples of practice, culture, health, and science. It honors our food cultures while also warning us about the dangers of chemicals and misguided approaches such as biofortification. “As a Public Health Physician...
    Native Plants Food Safety African Indigenous... AFSA Diverse Diets West Africa East Africa

  31. Edible Plants of Teso, Uganda

    This resource of wild edible plants in Uganda was contributed by Sara Sytsma. She shared: I ask people in the villages to teach me about different plants they eat.I started on a "book" with the information I could collect so far.Some Ugandan agricultural development staff have helped me too. If...
    Wild Food East Africa

  32. Indigenous Wild Food Plants in Home Gardens: Improving Health and Income

    Abstract, International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 2015 The wide-spread presence of home gardens, in developing nations is a strong foundation for food security, both in terms of quantity and quality. Indigenous wild food plants are a rich source of health-giving micronutrients, which are...

  33. Slow Food

    Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization, founded in 1989 toprevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, counteract the rise of fast life and combat people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us....
    Food Security

  34. Smart Management of Malnutrition Using Local Foods: A Sustainable Initiative for Developing Countries

    Amadou Issoufou , Lawali Sitou ,Smart Management of Malnutrition Using Local Foods: A Sustainable Initiative for Developing Countries,Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Vol 6,2022,URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.725536,...

  35. Wild Food Plants and Trends in Their Use - MDPI

    Abstract, Foods, 2020 Wild food plants (WFPs) are often highly nutritious but under-consumed at the same time. This study aimed to document the diversity of WFPs, and assess perceptions, attitudes, and drivers of change in their consumption among Minangkabau and Mandailing women farmers in West...

  36. Unlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agriculture

    Abstract, Plants-People-Planet, 2020 As the world's population is increasing, humanity is facing both shortages (hunger) and excesses (obesity) of calorie and nutrient intakes. Biodiversity is fundamental to addressing this double challenge, which involves a far better understanding of the global...

  37. Journal of Ethnic Foods

    Food and eating are studied by several disciplines because food has always been more than just nutrients. Food studies have provided better insights into important societal processes involving economics, health, politics, history, and the environment. The journal emphasises research that explores...

  38. Exploration of Wild Edible Plants Used as Food by Gaddis-A Tribal Community of the Western Himalaya

    Abstract, The Scientific World Journal, 2020 India being developing country and land of villages, elevated rates of poverty persist among rural communities, inspite of green revolution. e high economic growth has failed to improve food security in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas [1]....
    India

  39. Local knowledge as a tool for prospecting wild food plants: experiences in northeastern Brazil

    Abstract, Scientific Reports, 2021 This study aims to provide a simple framework to identify wild food plants with potential for popularization based on local knowledge and perception. To this end, we also characterized the distribution of this knowledge in the socio-ecological system. We...

  40. An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa

    Abstract, South African Journal of Botany, 2019 Highlights • A comprehensive inventory of edible plants of southern Africa is presented. • The inventory includes 1740 food plant species from 74 sources. • Apocynaceae has the highest number of edible plants (137 species). • The diversity in...

  41. Types of indigenous vegetables consumed, preparation, preferences and perceived benefits in Ghana

    Atuna, R.A., Djah, J., Achaglinkame, M.A.et al.Types of indigenous vegetables consumed, preparation, preferences and perceived benefits in Ghana.J. Ethn. Food9, 38 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-022-00154-3 Indigenous vegetables (IVs) are rich sources of essential nutrients, particularly...

  42. AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center - Discover Indigenous Vegetables

    Indigenous vegetables — plant species consumed in specific locations as part of traditional diets — have the potential to diversify cropping systems, increase farm income, and add a range of vital micronutrients to diets. AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center collects and characterizes indigenous...

  43. Optimization of African indigenous vegetables production in sub Saharan Africa: a review

    Kodzwa, J.J., Madamombe, G., Masvaya, E.N.et al.Optimization of African indigenous vegetables production in sub Saharan Africa: a review.CABI Agric Biosci4, 44 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-023-00184-0 The numerous types of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) in sub-Saharan Africa are...

  44. Smallholder Farmers' Use of Indigenous Knowledge Practices in Agri-food Systems: Contribution of Food Security Attainment Drive

    Olawuyi, S. O., Ijila, O. J., Adegbite, A., Olawuyi, T. D., & Farayola, C. O. (2024). Smallholder Farmers’ Use of Indigenous Knowledge Practices in Agri-food Systems: Contribution of Food Security Attainment Drive.Research on World Agricultural Economy,5(2), 45–67....
    IKPs