Promoting nutritious leafy vegetables in the Pacific and northern Australia

Lyons, Graham; Goebel, Régis; Tikai, P; Stanley, K-J; Taylor, Mary

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2015.1102.31

Cited by 9 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Since the 1940s the consumption of high-energy, low-nutrient foods, including white flour, sugar and polished rice by Pacific Islanders, combined with reduced exercise, has resulted in alarming rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers [1,2]. Indeed, around 70% of deaths in Pacific Island countries (PICs) are due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [3][4][5].…”

Section: Epidemic Of Non-communicable Diseases (Ncds)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Drumstick is high in b-carotene, sulphur, and selenium [14]. This species had the highest b-carotene level (427 mg/kg) of all plants analyzed in the earlier ACIAR project in the Pacific and northern Australia, and its protein is considered to be high in quality, with a similar pattern of essential amino acids as soybean [1]. It regularly accumulates around 12 times the concentration of selenium and around four times the concentration of sulphur compared to most other plants grown on the same soil.…”

Section: Medicinal Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bele is not as climate-or insect-resilient as chaya, but has been included as its flavor is highly regarded, it is noted for health properties, including high levels of the important carotenoids lutein and b-carotene [1], and it grows well on composted soils with sufficient rainfall. It is the most popular leafy vegetable in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.…”

Section: Medicinal Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The value of home gardens comprising diverse, nutritious, traditional food crops to supplement the diet of subsistence households is well documented [1,11,[87][88][89][90]. The cultivation of the giant swamp taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii, called babai in Kiribati and pulaka in Tuvalu) is traditional on atolls.…”

Section: Giant Swamp Taro Food Gardenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Lyons

Dean

Tongaiaba³

et al. 2020

Plants

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Pacific Islanders have paid dearly for abandoning traditional diets, with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) widespread. Starchy root crops like sweet potato, taro, and cassava are difficult to grow on the potassium-deficient soils of atolls, and high energy, low nutrient imported foods and drinks are popular. Nutritious, leafy food plants adapted to alkaline, salty, coral soils could form part of a food system strategy to reduce NCD rates. This project targeted four atolls south of Tarawa, Kiribati, and was later extended to Tuvalu. Mineral levels in diverse, local leafy food plants were compared to reveal genotype–environment interactions. Food plants varied in ability to accumulate minerals in leaves and in tolerance of mineral-deficient soils. Awareness activities which included agriculture, health, and education officers targeted atoll communities. Agriculture staff grew planting material in nurseries and provided it to farmers. Rejuvenation of abandoned giant swamp taro pits to form diversified nutritious food gardens was encouraged. Factsheets promoted the most suitable species from 24 analyzed, with multiple samples of each. These included Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (chaya), Pseuderanthemum whartonianum (ofenga), Polyscias scutellaria (hedge panax), and Portulaca oleracea (purslane). The promoted plants have been shown in other studies to have anti-NCD effects. Inclusion of the findings in school curricula and practical application in the form of demonstration school food gardens, as well as increased uptake by farmers, are needed. Further research is needed on bioavailability of minerals in plants containing phytates and tannins.

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Section: Epidemic Of Non-communicable Diseases (Ncds)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Medicinal Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Medicinal Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Giant Swamp Taro Food Gardenmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Lyons

Dean

Tongaiaba³

et al. 2020

Plants

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“…This study found foliar-applied Se to be on average eight times more efficient than soil-applied Se ( Ros et al, 2016 ). In tropical/sub-tropical countries where Se fertilisers are unavailable, leaves of the Drumstick tree ( Moringa oleifera ), which has exceptional ability to take up and accumulate Se, can provide useful levels of Se, even when grown on soils that provide little Se to most other plants ( Lyons et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Seleniummentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofortification of Cereals With Foliar Selenium and Iodine Could Reduce Hypothyroidism

Lyons

2018

Front. Plant Sci.

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Concurrent selenium and iodine deficiencies are widespread, in both developing and developed countries. Salt iodisation is insufficient to ensure global iodine adequacy, with an estimated one-third of humanity at risk of hypothyroidism and associated iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Agronomic biofortification of food crops, especially staples such as cereals, which are consumed widely, may be an effective component of a food system strategy to reduce selenium and iodine malnutrition. Iodine and selenium are needed in the optimum intake range for thyroid health, hence joint biofortification makes sense for areas deficient in both. Foliar application is recommended as the most effective, efficient, least wasteful method for selenium and iodine biofortification. Currently, selenium is easier to increase in grain, fruit, and storage roots by this method, being more phloem mobile than iodine. Nevertheless, strategic timing (around heading is usually best), use of surfactants and co-application with potassium nitrate can increase the effectiveness of foliar iodine biofortification. More research is needed on iodine transporters and iodine volatilisation in plants, bioavailability of iodine in biofortified plant products, and roles for nano selenium and iodine in biofortification. For adoption, farmers need an incentive such as access to a premium functional food market, a subsidy or increased grain yield resulting from possible synergies with co-applied fertilisers, enhancers, fungicides, and insecticides. Further research is needed to inform these aspects of foliar agronomic biofortification.

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Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific

Palanivel

Shah

2021

Environ Dev Sustain

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Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are the center of origin and diversity for several root, fruit and nut crops, which are indispensable for food security, rural livelihoods, and cultural identity of local communities. However, declining genetic diversity of traditional food crops and high vulnerability to climate change are major impediments for maintaining agricultural productivity. Limited initiatives to achieve food self-sufficiency and utilization of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for enhancing resilience of agro-ecosystems are other serious constraints. This review focuses on the visible and anticipated impacts of climate ge, on major food and tree crops in agriculture and agroforestry systems in the PICs. We argue that crop improvement through plant breeding is a viable strategy to enhance food security and climatic resilience in the region. The exploitation of adaptive traits: abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, yield and nutritional efficiency, is imperative in a world threatened by climatic extremes. However, the insular constraints of Fiji and other small PICs are major limitations for the utilization of PGR through high throughput techniques which are also cost prohibitive. Crop Improvement programs should instead focus on the identification, conservation, documentation and dissemination of information on unique landraces, community seed banks, introduction of new resistant genotypes, and sustaining and enhancing allelic diversity.

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Promoting nutritious leafy vegetables in the Pacific and northern Australia

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Biofortification of Cereals With Foliar Selenium and Iodine Could Reduce Hypothyroidism

Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific

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