UNU-INRA Seminar: “Tackling Hidden Hunger: The Potentials of Some Underutilized Plant Species”
Reliance on only a few crops to meet dietary requirements and the high cost of commonly consumed fruits and vegetables are driving forces behind the hidden hunger in Africa. This seminar looks at study results reporting the nutrient contents of some underutilized leafy vegetables, fruits, herbal plants and seed oils in Oyo and Osun states of Nigeria.
The study revealed that leafy vegetables have higher protein content than the exotic Amaranthus species which are widely consumed. Jatropha tanjorensis had the highest quantity of iron, Morinda lucida had highest amount of manganese and calcium among herbal plants, the Vitamin C in Strychnos spinosa was found to be five times higher than orange fruit while Cola millenii had the highest concentration of both eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid among the seed oils.
The results established a basis for continuous evaluation of agrobiodiversity to identify food crops that could prevent hidden hunger and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
Dr (Mrs.) M.O Bello, the presenter, is an Associate Professor of Applied Chemistry at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. She has 14 years of experience of graduate level teaching experience in basic and applied chemistry. Her area of research is on the nutritional and industrial potentials of underutilized plants.
Admission to this event is free.
inra@unu.edu
United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA)
2nd Floor, International House,
Annie Jiagge Road University of Ghana Campus
Legon-Accra Ghana