One resource that could help combat malnutrition and rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa is largely untapped, says a new report from the National Research Council. Native fruit species that have fed Africans for thousands of years -- such as butterfruit and ebony -- are now largely neglected and displaced by non-native species, leaving the indigenous plants' potential unrealized.
LOST CROPS OF AFRICA: VOL. 3, FRUITS says that with renewed development and wider cultivation, these plants could offer benefits for food security, economic development, and environmental protection. The report describes two dozen particularly promising species that should receive more attention and cultivation from horticultural scientists, development organizations, and others.
Reporters can obtain copies by contacting the National Academies' Office of News and Public Information; 202-334-2138 or news@nas.edu. Advance copies will be available to reporters starting at noon EST on Tuesday, Jan. 29. THE REPORT IS EMBARGOED AND NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE BEFORE 4 P.M. EST ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30.