Neglected and underutilized crop

Neglected and underutilised crops are domesticated plant species used for food, medicine, trading, or cultural practices within local communities but not widely commodified or studied as part of mainstream agriculture.[1][2] Such crops may be in declining production.[3] They are considered underutilised in scientific inquiry for their perceived potential to contribute to knowledge regarding nutrition, food security, genetic resistance, or sustainability.[4] Other terms to describe such crops include minor, orphan, underused, local, traditional, alternative, minor, niche, or underdeveloped.[5]

Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) on sale in Cali, Colombia. In left background: domestically produced mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) from Buzi district in Mozambique
  1. ^ Jain, Shri Mohan; Gupta, S. Dutta, eds. (2013). Biotechnology of Neglected and Underutilized Crops. Springer. p. v. ISBN 978-94-007-5499-7. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  2. ^ Padulosi, Stefano. "Bring NUS back to the table!". ECDPM: The Centre for Africa-Europe Relations. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. ^ Hammer, Karl; Heller, Joachim (1997). "Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops". Schriften zu Genetischen Ressourcen. 8: 223.
  4. ^ Jain, Shri Mohan; Gupta, S. Dutta, eds. (2013). Biotechnology of Neglected and Underutilized Crops. Springer. p. vi. ISBN 978-94-007-5499-7. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  5. ^ Padulosi, Stefano. "Bring NUS back to the table!". ECDPM: The Centre for Africa-Europe Relations. Retrieved 16 June 2023.