Underutilized plants increase biodiversity, improve food and nutrition security, reduce malnutrition, and enhance human health and well-being. Let’s put them back on the plate!

Abstract

The global food system depends on a limited number of plant species. Plants with unsatisfactory nutritional value are overproduced, whereas the wide variety of nutrient-rich plant species used in earlier times remains neglected. Basing our diet on a few crops has wide-ranging negative consequences on nutrition and food security. Although still under-researched, underutilized plants are slowly starting to receive increased recognition. These plants have superior nutritional content and immense potential to contribute to food and nutrition security and increased sustainability. This narrative review provides evidence to encourage the promotion, domestication, and commercialization of underutilized plants. The anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects of some of underutilized plants are presented in this review. The outstanding ability of forgotten plants to increase food and nutrition security, boost dietary diversity, reduce malnutrition, and enhance human health and well-being is demonstrated. The main barriers and obstacles to reintroducing underutilized foods are reviewed and recommendations for overcoming nutrition and dietary-related challenges for re-establishing underutilized plants into the global food system are presented. The expansion of underutilized plants for human use is of paramount importance. The exceptional nutritional properties, bioactive potential, and proven health benefits of underutilized plants indicate that increased promotion, domestication, and commercialization of these plants should be strongly supported. Besides health benefits, marginalized plants have the potential to enhance human well-being and improve people’s lives in many ways, retain biodiversity, and develop local economies. Therefore, underutilized plants should be used in the broader context of well-balanced and healthy diets.

Forgotten Gems: Exploring the Untapped Benefits of Underutilized Legumes in Agriculture, Nutrition, and Environmental Sustainability

“…Educational campaigns targeting farmers, consumers, and policymakers can help promote the understanding and appreciation of these legumes. This can be achieved through workshops, training programs, demonstration plots, and the dissemination of educational materials [92]. Investing in research on underutilized legumes by conducting studies to improve their productivity, adaptability to different agro-climatic conditions, and nutritional qualities may also help overcome the challenge of the widespread of forgotten gems [93].…”

“…Farmers, consumers, and policymakers need to be informed about the nutritional benefits, environmental advantages, and economic opportunities associated with these legumes. Awareness campaigns can help dispel misconceptions, highlight success stories, and showcase the potential of underutilized legumes [92]. By raising awareness, interest in underutilized legumes can be developed by both farmers and consumers.…”