Forgotten Gems: Exploring the Untapped Benefits of Underutilized Legumes in Agriculture, Nutrition, and Environmental Sustainability

In an era dominated by conventional agricultural practices, underutilized legumes termed "Forgotten Gems" represent a reservoir of untapped benefits with the unique opportunity to diversify agricultural landscapes and enhance global food systems. Underutilized crops are resistant to abioti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plants (Basel) 2024-05, Vol.13 (9), p.1208
Main Authors: Odeku, Oluwatoyin A, Ogunniyi, Queeneth A, Ogbole, Omonike O, Fettke, Joerg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
Agricultural practices
Agricultural production
Agricultural research
Agriculture
Beans
Biodiversity
Climate change
Climatic conditions
Critical components
Crop diseases
Crops
Dietary fiber
Dietary minerals
Drought
environment
Environmental aspects
Environmental conditions
Environmental impact
Environmental sustainability
Farmers
Fertilizers
Food production
Food security
Gems
Genetic diversity
Heat resistance
Legumes
Malnutrition
Metabolites
Mimosaceae
Nitrogen
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogenation
Nutrients
Nutrition
Nutritional aspects
Physiological aspects
Proteins
R&D
Research & development
Rice
Secondary metabolites
Soil fertility
Soils
Sustainability
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable development
underutilized legumes
Wheat
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Summary:In an era dominated by conventional agricultural practices, underutilized legumes termed "Forgotten Gems" represent a reservoir of untapped benefits with the unique opportunity to diversify agricultural landscapes and enhance global food systems. Underutilized crops are resistant to abiotic environmental conditions such as drought and adapt better to harsh soil and climatic conditions. Underutilized legumes are high in protein and secondary metabolites, highlighting their role in providing critical nutrients and correcting nutritional inadequacies. Their ability to increase dietary variety and food security emerges as a critical component of their importance. Compared to mainstream crops, underutilized legumes have been shown to reduce the environmental impact of climate change. Their capacity for nitrogen fixation and positive impact on soil health make them sustainable contributors to biodiversity conservation and environmental balance. This paper identifies challenges and proposes strategic solutions, showcasing the transformative impact of underutilized legumes on agriculture, nutrition, and sustainability. These "Forgotten Gems" should be recognized, integrated into mainstream agricultural practices, and celebrated for their potential to revolutionize global food production while promoting environmental sustainability.
ISSN:2223-7747
2223-7747
DOI:10.3390/plants13091208