Neglected and underutilized crop

Neglected and under-utilised crops are domesticated plant species used for food, medicine, trading, or cultural practices significant within their 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 under-utilised 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.