Global food security is increasingly challenged by climate change, soil degradation, population growth, and over-reliance on a few staple crops such as wheat, rice, and maize. This heavy dependence on limited food sources not only threatens biodiversity but also makes food systems vulnerable to climate fluctuations and diseases. Meanwhile, a vast number of nutrient-rich, resilient, and culturally significant crops remain underutilized due to factors such as commercialization barriers, limited scientific research, and consumer unawareness. Underutilized crops, also known as neglected and underexploited species, have long been grown in traditional farming systems and indigenous diets but are often overlooked in large-scale agriculture. These crops, including millets, amaranth, quinoa, teff, jackfruit, moringa, and various indigenous legumes and fruits are rich in bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, polyphenols, and essential micronutrients.
With increasing interest in sustainable and functional foods, unlocking the potential of these crops presents an opportunity to enhance food security, promote biodiversity, and support climate-resilient agriculture. Scientific research, policy support, and innovation in food technology can help integrate these crops into mainstream food systems, reducing dependence on conventional staples and improving global nutrition. By exploring their valuable bioactive properties, underutilized crops have the potential to contribute significantly to future food security and sustainable development.
The drive to unlock the potential of underutilized crops is also closely tied to global sustainability goals. Diversifying the food system by incorporating these crops can lead to more resilient agricultural practices, reduce reliance on water and chemical inputs, and promote biodiversity. This approach is seen as a vital component of future food systems that are both environmentally sustainable and capable of delivering enhanced nutritional benefits to populations around the world.
The primary goal of "Unlocking the Potential of Underutilized Crops: Emerging Sources of Valuable Bioactives for Future Foods and Food Security" is to explore and promote the utilization of lesser-known crops as sustainable sources of essential nutrients and bioactive compounds to enhance global food security. This involves identifying and harnessing the nutritional, medicinal, and economic benefits of these crops to diversify food systems, improve resilience to climate change, and support sustainable agriculture. Additionally, the goal is to raise awareness about their potential in addressing malnutrition, reducing dependence on staple crops, and creating new market opportunities for farmers and food industries. By integrating underutilized crops into mainstream agriculture and food production, this initiative aims to contribute to a more secure, nutritious, and sustainable global food system.
Underutilized crops are gaining recognition as promising sources of bioactive compounds with significant potential for future foods and global food security. These crops, often overlooked in modern agriculture, possess unique nutritional profiles, resilience to harsh environmental conditions, and adaptability to climate change, making them crucial for diversifying food systems. Their cultivation can enhance dietary diversity, address malnutrition, and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices by requiring fewer inputs and thriving in marginal lands. Promoting the cultivation and utilization of these crops can reduce dependence on staple crops, improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers, and contribute to global food security by expanding the available food resources and enhancing dietary diversity.
Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Nutritional Profiling and Functional Properties of Neglected Crops
• Postharvest Processing Techniques for Enhancing Bioactive Retention
• Role of Underutilized Crops to Enhancing Food Security and Sustainability
• Role of Underutilized Crops in Functional Foods
• Breeding and Genetic Modification for Enhanced Bioactive Content
• Advancements in Biotechnology for Underutilized Crops
• Climate Resilience and Sustainability of Neglected Crops
• Economic and Policy Perspectives on Promoting Underutilized Crops
• Consumer Perception and Market Trends in Alternative Crops
• Valorization of Agricultural By-products for Bioactive Compounds
• Green Technology for the extraction of bioactive compounds from by-products
This research topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the research topic description: Data Report,
Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Policy and Practice Reviews, Review, Systematic Review, Technology and Code
Keywords: Underutilized crops, Bioactives, Nutritional potential, Sustainable agriculture, Climate-resilient crops, Food security
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
