Abstract:
Despite the extensive research and development programs, the world is facing severe challenges to food security. Diets of many regions are restricted to a few plant species even in the presence of vast floral diversity. Technological moves, soil degradation, massivecultivation, urbanization and lack of data on many plants are limiting factors to nutritional security. The exploration of the ethnobotanical perspectives of regional communities on the unconventional plant species and their scientific evidencing can provide us with information of great interest. In the present era, food biodiversity is the only solution to deal with food and nutrition insecurity. The study aimed to explore the nutritional potential of various unconventional food plants i.e., (Solanum nigrum L, Rumex dentatus, Bauhinia variegate, Atropa belladonna, Digera muricata, Portulaca oleracea, Physalis minima L, Cordia myxa, Cucumis melo L and Lotus roots) in the Punjab province. In this way, the regional unconventional natural flora can contribute value addition to the daily intake, enrich diet diversity and ensure nutrition security.
Page(s):
21-21
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: International Food & Nutrition Conference" August 18th-20th, 2022, University of Swat, Swat (Book of Abstracts), Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2022
Keywords:
Food security
,
Diet diversity
,
unconventional food plants
,
scientific exploration