Orphan Crops for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security: Promoting Neglected and Underutilized Species - Paperback

by Stefano Padulosi (Editor), E. D. Israel Oliver King (Editor), Danny Hunter (Editor)

Orphan Crops for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security discusses the issues, challenges, needs and opportunities related to the promotion of orphan crops, known also as neglected and underutilized species (NUS).

The book is structured into six parts, covering the following themes: introduction to NUS, approaches, methods and tools for the use enhancement of NUS, integrated conservation and use of minor millets, nutritional and food security roles of minor millets, stakeholders and global champions, and, building an enabling environment. Presenting a number of case studies at the regional and country levels, the chapters cover different but highly interlinked aspects along the value chains, from acquisition and characterization of genetic diversity, cultivation and harvesting to value addition, marketing, consumption and policy for mainstreaming. Cross-cutting issues like gender, capacity building and empowerment of vulnerable groups are also addressed by authors. Representatives from communities, research for development agencies and the private sector also share their reflections on the needs for the use enhancement of NUS from their own perspectives.

This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of food security, sustainable agriculture, nutrition and health and development, as well as practitioners and policymakers involved in building more resilient food and production systems.

Author Biography

Stefano Padulosi is a Senior Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Via di San Dominico, 1, 00153, Rome, Italy.

E.D. Israel Oliver King is Principal Scientist at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, India.

Danny Hunter is a Senior Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Via di San Dominico, 1, 00153, Rome, Italy.

M.S. Swaminathan is the Founder of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, India.