Every culture across the world should preserve locally available crops which are both nutritious and economic, said experts at the inaugural ceremony of a three-day seminar on ‘Aligning Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Improved Nutrition’ at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) here.
In most parts of the world, edible plant and animal species, which are available aplenty in specific regions, are not put to use in diet because globally, people have shifted to a limited set of staple foods, said Ann Tutwiler, director general, Bioversity international, Rome, while delivering the keynote address.
Local crops not used
Ms. Tutwiler said in many parts of the world, crops which are locally available are not used in cuisine because people over generations have forgotten their use. “It is equally important to check whether people like eating the locally available crops even after identifying the crops with nutritional value. The crop chart will be useless if people do not want to eat them,” she said.
During bioversity research in different parts of the world, the research team also develops recipes which can be tried out by local populations. “In some cases, people might reject certain crops because they are used to imported foods which are more familiar than the local ones,” she added.
A fruit called camu camu which has more Vitamin C than oranges were not preferred in Brazil where it is available locally. “People in Brazil are used to oranges which are imported,” she explained.
There is a need to create awareness about crop diversity to create a feasible market so that farmers would produce these local crops. “Unless there is a market for it, farmers will not produce crops which are diverse,” Ms. Tutwiler said. If local crops are produced, it helps not just biodiversity but also helps in conversing the environment where climate change has resulted in water scarcity, she added.
Diet- related diseases
NIN Director R. Hemalatha said across India, various dietary deficient diseases have multiplied.
Because of sedentary lifestyle in which fast-food culture is the norm, many people are suffering from diabetes and hypertension, she said, adding that locally available food crops should replace the alien ones to restore balance in diet.