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The Role of Underutilized Crops in Sustainable Agriculture and Food-Systems

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 6598

Special Issue Editor

Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina – Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: biotechnology; climate change; plant nutrition and nutritional stresses; legume grains
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last decade, attention has been drawn to the exploitation of old, forgotten crops recently neglected by scientists and policy makers. Currently, the world’s carbohydrate supply is mainly based on three major crops: rice, maize and wheat. This has pushed the food production system to a high level of uncertainty and insecurity and, as climate change and other environmental pressures continue to rise, it is of utmost importance to develop new sources of food and feed in order to promote sustainable agriculture and food systems.

The term “underutilized crops” covers: plant species that are indigenous to a certain region, being part of local tradition and adapted to specific, usually harsher, environmental conditions; neglected cultivars of major crops; and minor crops, that are already cultivated but are underutilized due to their relatively low global production and market value. These crops are often good sources of amino acids, fiber, and proteins, and can be alternative nutrient sources, increasing the diversification of food production and acting as potential new ingredients for food technology. Additionally, they can be included in cropping systems, improving companion crop values, enhancing biodiversity, and providing a range of ecosystem services.

In order to promote the inclusion of these crops in agricultural systems by farmers, and to influence policies to support these actions, it is necessary to understand the potential uses, benefits, and constraints associated with specific species and landraces. Hence, it is our main goal to gather information on underutilized crops from the point of view of their agronomic, genetic, metabolic, and nutritional profiles as well as on the social, political, and governance mechanisms that can be used to promote their inclusion in a farm to fork system.

References:

  1. Ebert, A.W. (2014) Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems. Sustainability 6(1), 319-335. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su6010319
  2. Yang, S.; Grall, A.; Chapman, M.A. (2018) Origin and diversification of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.), a multipurpose underutilized legume. American Journal of Botany 105(5), 1-10. doi:10.1002/ajb2.1093
  3. Gregory, P.J.; Mayes, S.; Hui, C.H.; et al. (2019) Crops For the Future (CFF): an overview of research efforts in the adoption of underutilised species. Planta 250, 979-988. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1007/s00425-019-03179-2

Dr. Carla Sancho dos Santos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • underutilized species
  • germplasm diversity
  • nutritional value
  • chemical composition
  • food security
  • technological properties
  • plant genetic resources
  • cropping systems
  • supply chains
  • cultivation
  • climate change
  • ecosystem services

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4232 KiB  
Article
Reviving a Neglected Crop: A Case Study on Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) Cultivation in Germany
by Theresa M. Reif, Sabine Zikeli, Ann-Marleen Rieps, Carina P. Lang, Jens Hartung and Sabine Gruber
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 133; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13010133 - 25 Dec 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3445
Abstract
Cultivation of lentils had ended by mid-20th century in Germany, but a revival was initiated in the first decade of this millennium in Southwest Germany. However, knowledge of lentil cultivation was almost lost, and today’s yields are still low. To gain an overview [...] Read more.
Cultivation of lentils had ended by mid-20th century in Germany, but a revival was initiated in the first decade of this millennium in Southwest Germany. However, knowledge of lentil cultivation was almost lost, and today’s yields are still low. To gain an overview of current farm practices and of factors that can help lentil cultivation thrive, 25 lentil farmers (21 organic, 4 conventional) from SW Germany answered questionnaires for agronomic data on lentil cultivation in the years 2015, 2016, and 2017. Eleven farmers took part in additional semi-structured interviews about their motivation and the most important factors (economic, ecological, and social) that encouraged them to grow lentils. Neither the lentil variety (Anicia, Späth’s Alblinse I and II), nor the companion crop for the usual mixed cropping (spring barley, oat, and camelina), significantly influenced lentil yield. If lentil cultivation is to further expand, data from more farmers could be evaluated and factors that contribute to crop thriving analyzed more clearly. The cultivation techniques currently practiced are diverse, and lentils integrate well into existing structures. Farmers appear motivated to grow lentils by good examples of colleagues, by availability of marketing channels, and by the desire to promote lentils’ ecological and social benefits. Full article
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23 pages, 6540 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Management Options through Empirical Modeling to Improve Pearl Millet Production for Semi-Arid and Arid Regions of Punjab, Pakistan
by Asmat Ullah, Ishfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Mohsin Waqas, Muhammad Ashraf Bhatti and Ashfaq Ahmad
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7715; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12187715 - 18 Sep 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2276
Abstract
Low planting density and deficient nitrogen application are factors that significantly decrease the yield of pearl millet in Pakistan. Optimizing their management is imperative in increasing millet production efficiency, especially with N fertilization, which can strongly affect hybrid millet response. Therefore, a field [...] Read more.
Low planting density and deficient nitrogen application are factors that significantly decrease the yield of pearl millet in Pakistan. Optimizing their management is imperative in increasing millet production efficiency, especially with N fertilization, which can strongly affect hybrid millet response. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (semi-arid) and the Agronomic Research Station, Karor Lal Eason, District Layyah (arid) over two summer seasons (2015 and 2016). The experiment consisted of three intra-row spacings (10, 15, and 20 cm) as main plots, while four nitrogen rates (0, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha−1) were randomized in subplots. The treatments were triplicated each year at both locations. The results depicted a significant change in millet crop development with a change in planting density and nitrogen rate in semi-arid and arid environments. The decrease in planting density resulted 1–2 day(s) delay in 50% flowering, milking, and maturity in semi-arid and arid region during both years of study. Higher dry matter accumulation was observed at medium planting density (15 cm intra-row spacing) and higher levels of nitrogen (250 kg ha−1) at both locations and growing seasons. The yield and attributed yield performed well with 15-cm plant spacing coupled with N application from 150–200 kg ha−1, and resulted in high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The results of the quadratic relationship and economic analysis linked with yield and nitrogen levels at 15-cm spacing showed 176 and 181 kg N ha−1 optimum levels (mean of years) against the economic N levels of 138 and 137 kg N ha−1 for Faisalabad and Layyah, respectively. The benefit–cost ratio (BCR) showed 31% and 45% mean excessive N at 200 and 250 kg N ha−1, in Faisalabad and Layyah, respectively. So, it is concluded that the optimum economic level of N should be sought out according to the soil and climate of an area for the production of hybrid pearl millet on a sustainable basis. Full article
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