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Prospects of orphan crops in climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Mabhaudhi, T.
  • Chimonyo, V. G. P.
  • Hlahla, S.
  • Massawe, F.
  • Mayes, S.
  • Nhamo, Luxon
  • Modi, A. T.

Abstract

Orphan crops play an important role in global food and nutrition security, and may have potential to contribute to sustainable food systems under climate change. Owing to reports of their potential under water scarcity, there is an argument to promote them to sustainably address challenges such as increasing drought and water scarcity, food and nutrition insecurity, environmental degradation, and employment creation under climate change. We conducted a scoping review using online databases to identify the prospects of orphan crops to contribute to (1) sustainable and healthy food systems, (2) genetic resources for future crop improvement, and (3) improving agricultural sustainability under climate change. The review found that, as a product of generations of landrace agriculture, several orphan crops are nutritious, resilient, and adapted to niche marginal agricultural environments. Including such orphan crops in the existing monocultural cropping systems could support more sustainable, nutritious, and diverse food systems in marginalised agricultural environments. Orphan crops also represent a broad gene pool for future crop improvement. The reduction in arable land due to climate change offers opportunities to expand the area under their production. Their suitability to marginal niche and low-input environments offers opportunities for low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from an agro-ecosystems, production, and processing perspective. This, together with their status as a sub-set of agro-biodiversity, offers opportunities to address socio-economic and environmental challenges under climate change. With research and development, and policy to support them, orphan crops could play an important role in climate-change adaptation, especially in the global south.

Suggested Citation

  • Mabhaudhi, T. & Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Hlahla, S. & Massawe, F. & Mayes, S. & Nhamo, Luxon & Modi, A. T., 2019. "Prospects of orphan crops in climate change," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 250(3):695-.
    • Handle: RePEc:iwt:jounls:h049145
    DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03129-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Christine Wamuyu Mwangi & Josiah Ateka & Robert Mbeche & Luke Oyugi & Elijah Ateka, 2022. "Comparing farmers’ willingness to pay with costs of clean sweet potato seed multiplication in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(5), pages 1279-1293, October.
    2. Magidi, J. & van Koppen, Barbara & Nhamo, L. & Mpandeli, S. & Slotow, R. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2021. "Informing equitable water and food policies through accurate spatial information on irrigated areas in smallholder farming systems," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-13(24):36.
    3. Surendran Arumugam & Ramu Govindasamy & James E. Simon & Emil Wyk & Burhan Ozkan, 2022. "Market outlet choices for African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs): a socio-economic analysis of farmers in Zambia," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Roger R. B. Leakey & Marie-Louise Tientcheu Avana & Nyong Princely Awazi & Achille E. Assogbadjo & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Prasad S. Hendre & Ann Degrande & Sithabile Hlahla & Leonard Manda, 2022. "The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-75, February.
    5. Venkatesh Paramesh & Parveen Kumar & Ranjan Parajuli & Rosa Francaviglia & Kallakeri Kannappa Manohara & Vadivel Arunachalam & Trivesh Mayekar & Sulekha Toraskar, 2023. "A Life Cycle Assessment of Rice–Rice and Rice–Cowpea Cropping Systems in the West Coast of India," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, February.
    6. Takudzwa Mandizvo & Alfred Oduor Odindo & Jacob Mashilo, 2021. "Citron Watermelon Potential to Improve Crop Diversification and Reduce Negative Impacts of Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Asmamaw Mulusew & Mingyong Hong, 2024. "A dynamic linkage between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and agricultural productivity: evidence from Ethiopia," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    8. Maria Gialeli & Andreas Y. Troumbis & Constantinos Giaginis & Sousana K. Papadopoulou & Ioannis Antoniadis & Georgios K. Vasios, 2023. "The Global Growth of ‘Sustainable Diet’ during Recent Decades, a Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    9. Sobratee, N. & Davids, R. & Chinzila, C. B. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe & Scheelbeek, P. & Modi, A. T. & Dangour, A. D. & Slotow, R., 2022. "Visioning a food system for an equitable transition towards sustainable diets—a South African perspective," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(6):328.
    10. Vimbayi Grace Petrova Chimonyo & Tendai Polite Chibarabada & Dennis Junior Choruma & Richard Kunz & Sue Walker & Festo Massawe & Albert Thembinkosi Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2022. "Modelling Neglected and Underutilised Crops: A Systematic Review of Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Hillary Mugiyo & Vimbayi G. P. Chimonyo & Mbulisi Sibanda & Richard Kunz & Cecilia R. Masemola & Albert T. Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2021. "Evaluation of Land Suitability Methods with Reference to Neglected and Underutilised Crop Species: A Scoping Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-24, January.
    12. Abel Chemura & Dumisani Kutywayo & Danisile Hikwa & Christoph Gornott, 2022. "Climate change and cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) production: assessing impacts and potential adaptation strategies in Zimbabwe," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Marija Knez & Marija Ranic & Mirjana Gurinovic & Maria Glibetic & Jasna Savic & Konstadinos Mattas & Murat Yercan, 2023. "Causes and Conditions for Reduced Cultivation and Consumption of Underutilized Crops: Is There a Solution?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    14. Hemalatha Palanivel & Shipra Shah, 2021. "Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14264-14323, October.
    15. Chimonyo, V. G. P. & Chibarabada, T. P. & Choruma, D. J. & Kunz, R. & Walker, S. & Massawe, F. & Modi, A. T. & Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe, 2022. "Modelling neglected and underutilised crops: a systematic review of progress, challenges, and opportunities," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(21):13.
    16. Charlie Mbosso & Basile Boulay & Stefano Padulosi & Gennifer Meldrum & Youssoufa Mohamadou & Aminata Berthe Niang & Harouna Coulibaly & Yara Koreissi & Amadou Sidibé, 2020. "Fonio and Bambara Groundnut Value Chains in Mali: Issues, Needs, and Opportunities for Their Sustainable Promotion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, June.
    17. Anne Edwards & Isaac Njaci & Abhimanyu Sarkar & Zhouqian Jiang & Gemy George Kaithakottil & Christopher Moore & Jitender Cheema & Clare E. M. Stevenson & Martin Rejzek & Petr Novák & Marielle Vigourou, 2023. "Genomics and biochemical analyses reveal a metabolon key to β-L-ODAP biosynthesis in Lathyrus sativus," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    18. Nafiisa Sobratee & Rashieda Davids & Chuma B. Chinzila & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Pauline Scheelbeek & Albert T. Modi & Alan D. Dangour & Rob Slotow, 2022. "Visioning a Food System for an Equitable Transition towards Sustainable Diets—A South African Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.

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