Revitalization and Sustainable Utilization of Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species (NUS) for Enhanced Human Nutrition and Agroecological Resilience

Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species (NUS) are increasingly recognized for their potential to transform global food systems. Despite their abundance and adaptability, these plants have been largely ignored in mainstream agriculture, often overshadowed by major staple crops. The benefits of integrating NUS into agricultural practices include enhanced biodiversity, improved resilience to climate change, and enriched nutritional profiles for global diets. Recent studies highlight significant nutritional and agroecological values inherent in NUS, yet their potential remains underexplored. While traditional knowledge offers insights into the cultivation and usage of these species, scientific research is needed to bridge existing gaps, address ongoing debates on cultivation practices, and further our understanding of their health impacts.

This Research Topic aims to revitalize and implement sustainable practices for the utilization of NUS, emphasizing their role in enhancing human nutrition and promoting agroecological resilience. By addressing specific questions on the identification, management, and commercialization of NUS, this research seeks to establish pathways for their integration into sustainable food systems. Key objectives include understanding their contributions to biodiversity, investigating their health benefits, and developing innovative value chains that capture their economic potential. Furthermore, it explores strategies for overcoming consumer hesitancy and socio-economic and policy barriers that hinder their mainstream adoption.

To gather further insights into the revitalization and sustainable utilization of NUS, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Role of NUS in agrobiodiversity, food environment conservation and climate adaptation

o Nutritional and health benefits of underutilized plant species

o Sustainable dietary patterns, dietary adaptation, and NUS adoption

o Economic impacts, markets, and value chain development for NUS

o Studies on consumer acceptance of NUS

o Policy frameworks and socio-economic considerations in NUS mainstreaming

We also encourage submissions of original research, reviews, and case studies that highlight regional successes and present innovative approaches to integrating NUS into food systems.

We welcome various types of articles such as original research, reviews, case studies, policy analyses, and perspectives focused on the sustainable utilization and benefits of NUS.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Agrobiodiversity, Climate Adaptation, Nutritional Benefits, Sustainable Agriculture, Underutilized Plants, Value Chain Development

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.