Neotropical Foods: Nutritional and Functional Aspects

The Neotropics, a region renowned for its vast biodiversity, includes the Andes, Amazon, and a variety of valleys. This area has greatly enriched global nutrition by contributing several essential crops such as potatoes, maize, and recently, quinoa. Despite the rich genetic diversity of crops like the over 2,000 varieties of potatoes found in the Andes, only a few cultivars have been internationally adopted. Many underutilized crops in the Neotropics possess significant nutritional and functional potential, which could play a crucial role in enhancing food security, improving health, and promoting sustainability.

This Research Topic aims to shed light on the myriad of food ingredients and underutilized foods originating from the Neotropical region, examining their nutritional and functional attributes. The diverse sources include plants, animals, and other unique origins, each offering distinct benefits. By exploring both ancient traditional food processing techniques and contemporary biotechnological applications, this research seeks to develop future-ready food products and ingredients that leverage the rich biodiversity of the Neotropics.

To gather further insights in the diverse range of traditional and modern Neotropical food applications, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Ancient crops’ nutritional and sustainable value

- Functional properties of Neotropical foods

- Chemical composition analysis

- Nutritional value assessments

- Development of innovative foods and food ingredients

- Discovery of new species and varieties

- Exploration of animal-based food products

- Plant-based food innovations

- Alternative food sources beyond animals and plants

- Food security and sustainability initiatives.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• ... 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
• 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: Andean Foods, Amazonian Foods, Food Security, Traditional Crops, Food sustainability, Functional foods

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.