Value Chain Analysis of Chaya (Mayan Spinach) in Guatemala

Amaya, N.; Padulosi, S.; Meldrum, Gennifer

doi:10.1007/s12231-019-09483-y

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Table 4 summarizes the issues for different actors of the value chains. Assessing the constraints along the different stages of a value chain helps understand why these minor crops remain so, despite their nutritional and economic potential [46]. The development of functional value chains is important to consolidate resilient agricultural alternatives while providing local populations with nutritious foods [47].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neglected and underutilized species tend to have bottlenecks across their value chains, including agronomic constraints (low yields, poor access to seeds, etc. ), commercialization constraints (poor value chain organization, high transaction costs), and weak consumer demand as a result of low awareness, negative perceptions of the crop, or difficult processing, among other factors [46,48]. These bottlenecks can reduce interest in growing and using species, while other crops compete for time, land, and space in local diets and use practices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fonio and Bambara Groundnut Value Chains in Mali: Issues, Needs, and Opportunities for Their Sustainable Promotion

et al. 2020

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As the effects of climate change are severely straining West African agricultural systems, the adoption of more incisive interventions in support of sustainable development agendas for the region is highly critical and cannot be further delayed by governments. Neglected and underutilized species (NUS) are one important ally in pursuing resilience in both production and food systems because of their promising traits in terms of nutrition, adaptation to local agroecosystems, and economic potential for local populations. Focusing on fonio, a gluten-free traditional cereal, and Bambara groundnut, a protein-rich leguminous crop, we investigate issues in their production, commercialization, and consumption in southern Mali. The aim was to assess needs and opportunities for improving their value chains and increasing their use and societal benefits. Using a Rapid Market Appraisal method, we surveyed traders, producers, processors, and consumers of target crops in 2017 and 2018. Our findings indicate that while both crops are consumed and praised by local populations, critical bottlenecks inhibit their wider socioeconomic potential. Lack of access to inputs and equipment and presence of sand in the commercialized product are important issues for fonio, whereas the Bambara groundnut value chain suffers from poor processing facilities and lack of market promotion. Policy recommendations to tackle the identified bottlenecks are proposed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fonio and Bambara Groundnut Value Chains in Mali: Issues, Needs, and Opportunities for Their Sustainable Promotion

et al. 2020

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“…Once obtained, reliable nutritional data on orphan crops and other nutritious biodiversity can be used as evidence to inform and shape global and national policies that currently incentivize the production of cheap, unhealthy food with a large environmental footprint, while minimizing diversity on farms and in agricultural landscapes [74,75]. This evidence has been recognized as crucial in the creation of enabling environments that are more conducive to enhancing nutrition and are aimed at making healthy, diversified and sustainable foods available to all and the easy default choice in local and global food markets [47].…”

Section: Linking Research To Policy and Marketsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems: The Contribution of Orphan Crops and Wild Edible Species

et al. 2020

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Calls for a global food system transformation and finding more sustainable ways of producing healthier, safe and nutritious food for all have spurred production approaches such as sustainable intensification and biofortification with limited consideration of the copious amounts of orphan crops, traditional varieties and wild edible species readily available in many countries, mostly in and around smallholder farmers’ fields. This paper explores the potential role of locally available; affordable and climate-resilient orphan crops, traditional varieties and wild edible species to support local food system transformation. Evidence from Brazil, Kenya, Guatemala, India, Mali, Sri Lanka and Turkey is used to showcase a three-pronged approach that aims to: (i) increase evidence of the nutritional value and biocultural importance of these foods, (ii) better link research to policy to ensure these foods are considered in national food and nutrition security strategies and actions, and (iii) improve consumer awareness of the desirability of these alternative foods so that they may more easily be incorporated in diets, food systems and markets. In the seven countries, this approach has brought about positive changes around increasing community dietary diversity and increasing market opportunities for smallholder growers, as well as increased attention to biodiversity conservation.

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“…Cnidoscolus aconitifolius also known as tree spinach is a hermaphroditic shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family with the characteristics of short flower lifespans, insect pollination, rapid growth, and a high resistance to adverse environmental conditions. It is native to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico in Central America and is now commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions [ 1 , 2 ]. C. aconitifolius is an edible vegetable crop that tastes like spinach [ 3 ] but has a higher nutritional value [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficient In Vitro Sterilization and Propagation from Stem Segment Explants of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I.M. Johnst, a Multipurpose Woody Plant

Jiang

et al. 2022

Plants

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Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I.M. Johnst is a multipurpose woody plant. In this study, an in vitro efficient propagation system of stem segment explants derived from field-grown C. aconitifolius plants was established for the first time. The sterilization effect, axillary bud initiation, and proliferation efficiency of stem segments were evaluated. The results showed that the sterilization time of 0.1% mercuric chloride, the concentration of Plant Preservative Mixture (PPM), the pretreatment method, and the sampling season had significant effects on the sterilization of stem segments (p < 0.05). The type of medium and plant growth regulators (PGRs) affected the initiation of axillary buds, and the proliferation efficiency was significantly affected by PGRs. The results showed that the best sterilization method for stem segment explants was as follows: a pretreatment by rinsing with running water for 120 min, soaking in 75% ethanol for 50 s, soaking in 0.1% mercuric chloride for 10 min, and medium supplemented with 3 mL/L PPM. When inoculated on the medium in spring, the contamination rate was as low as 25.56%. The optimal initiation medium for axillary buds in stem segments was half-strength Murashige and Skoog (1/2 MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (6-BA). The induction rate was as high as 93.33%, and the mean length of axillary buds was 2.47 cm. The optimal proliferation medium was 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.2 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The induction rate was up to 80.00%, the total proliferation coefficient was 4.56, and the net proliferation coefficient was 5.69. The 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L 6-BA and 1.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was most conducive to the elongation of the adventitious shoot, and the adventitious shoot of approximately 1 cm reached 1.93 cm after culturing for 14 days. The best medium for adventitious shoot rooting was 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), the highest rooting rate was 82.00%, and the survival rate of transplanting was over 90%.

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Value Chain Analysis of Chaya (Mayan Spinach) in Guatemala

Cited by 15 publications

References 24 publications

Fonio and Bambara Groundnut Value Chains in Mali: Issues, Needs, and Opportunities for Their Sustainable Promotion

Fonio and Bambara Groundnut Value Chains in Mali: Issues, Needs, and Opportunities for Their Sustainable Promotion

Local Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems: The Contribution of Orphan Crops and Wild Edible Species

Efficient In Vitro Sterilization and Propagation from Stem Segment Explants of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I.M. Johnst, a Multipurpose Woody Plant

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