There has been growing academic interest in local food plants. This is a subject that lies at the frontiers of knowledge of various areas, such as environmental sciences, nutrition, public health, and humanities. To date, however, we do not have a book bringing these multi-disciplinary perspectives to bear on this complex field. This book presents the current state of knowledge on local Brazilian food plants through a multidisciplinary approach, including an overview of food plants in Brazil, as well as comprehensive nutritional data. It compiles basic theories on the interrelationship between biodiversity and food and nutrition security, as well as ethnobotanical knowledge of local Brazilian food plants. Additionally, this title provides various methods of learning and teaching the subject, including through social media, artificial intelligence, and through workshops, among others.

The edited volume brings out a comprehensive collection of information relevant to wild food plants, their importance for global sustainable food security, future-readiness, and resilient agriculture. The book's primary focus is to cover topics on the diversity of wild food plants across the globe, their nutraceutical importance, production-consumption trends, integration into the current food menu, and marketing and livelihood opportunities to the indigenous people. Sustainable development goals 1, 2, and 3 are significant for a poverty-free, hunger-free world and ensure good health and wellbeing of the people, respectively. The three goals are important and interlinked as achieving zero poverty will help reduce hunger among the people. Availability of nutritional and balanced food ensures good health. Wild food plants are an essential part of a nourishing and healthy diet for indigenous communities. They are globally collected from natural habitats or cultivated at more minor scales. Although consumed locally, they are an essential part of the diets of tribal and indigenous communities worldwide and hold immense potential to alleviate global hunger. Considering their importance for global sustainable food security, it is essential to clearly understand the future role of wild food plants for future readiness and resilient agriculture. Therefore, this book provides a piece of important information on these aspects. The book is a valuable resource for the audience ranging from undergraduate science students to the NGOs and institutions involved in poverty alleviation programs, policymakers, dieticians, horticulturists, plant breeders, farmers, health experts, and food enthusiasts.

Traditional Starch Food Products: Application and Processing is the fourth volume of the "Underground Starchy Crops of South American Origin" book series. Organized in five volumes, this series brings information on the applied level of producing and using starch from a range of plants grown in tropical and subtropical areas that have South American origin. This book describes the use of starchy roots, tubers and rhizomes in food, medicine, local culture, and religion, emphasizing the vital roles they play in indigenous Andean or Amazonian communities, offering cultural identity and economic value. The book's comprehensive exploration highlights the multifaceted world of underground starchy crops, emphasizing the challenges to their successful development and preservation. Edited by a team of experts with solid background on starch extraction research, these books are aimed at all those involved in research and development, new technology processes and quality control and legislation in the field of starch. - Thoroughly explores traditional, post-harvest processes and innovation in conservation of fresh roots and tubers - Examines nutrients and antinutrients in starchy roots, tubers and rhizomes - Includes traditional as well as innovative food processing technologies through cooking and freezing

Agroecology of Edible Weeds and Non-Crops: Ecological and Socio-Economic Potential of the Associated Biodiversity is the first book to move beyond the ethnobotanical aspect of under-utilized non crops to explore how to optimize their potential. Those interested in increasing the diversity of the farming landscape and food systems by means of edible non-crop plants have access to a plethora of information on the ethnobotany of these species. Yet little to no information exists on the agroecological requirements and potential benefits of underutilized edible non-crop plants in the context of sustainable farming systems. This book fills that knowledge gap from identifying edible weeds and non-crop plants, to exploring the ways these plants can be used to economically improve nutrition. With case studies of edible weeds and non-crop plants from around the world, including Europe and North America, in urban as well as rural settings, the book highlights the global opportunities provided by these plants. Agroecology of Edible Weeds and Non-Crops includes much needed information for identifying, maintaining and benefitting from these plant species. It is ideal for agricultural professionals, educators, researchers, and students - Evaluates ecological processes underpinning the abundance and diversity of edible non-crop plants - Assesses ecological benefits of these species within agroecosystems - Identifies socioeconomic barriers and incentives in exploiting consumable agricultural biodiversity - Highlights real-world insights through case studies

Starchy Crops Morphology, Extraction, Properties and Applications is the first volume of the "Underground Starchy Crops of South American Origin" book series. Organized in five volumes, this series brings information on the applied level of producing and using starch from a range of plants grown in tropical and subtropical areas that have South American origin. This book presents the characteristics and properties of starches for raw materials grown in tropical climates. It allows comparing starches from 3 types of storage organs, roots, tubers and rhizomes, with different morphological structures and physiology. It contains the methodologies of extraction and analysis, describing the commercial process with the commercial equipment's and its by-products and wastes. It also includes topics on fraud detection, nutritional aspects, and starch structure. Edited by a team of experts with solid background on starch extraction research, the books are aimed at all those involved in research and development as well as quality control and legislation in the field of starch. - Offers an overview on the applied level of producing and using starch from a range of plants grown in tropical and subtropical areas that have South America origin - Brings physiological differences of starch and how it relates to their performance and application - Thoroughly explores the structure of starch polysaccharides, analyses, industrial modifications, extraction, processing, applications, adulteration, and economic and legislative aspects

This edited volume scrutinizes how pre-Columbian human societies have shaped and transformed lowland South America – contributing to biological and landscape diversity. This geographic area has supported human populations since at least the transition from the Pleistocene to Holocene, but the nature and scale of these interactions are matters of debate and their legacy to modern lowland environments is not fully understood. This book brings together works from distinct disciplines, including theoretical and methodological approaches on single case studies or broad regional syntheses, with no chronological constraint. The editors aim to generate a novel contribution reporting the most recent and ground-breaking research on human interactions with past environments and resources in lowland South America, from pre-Columbian to Colonial times. The volume also discusses the legacy of these past interactions and their potential contribution to informing current conservation and development agendas, providing examples of how archaeology and paleoecology can fill gaps in conservation and developmental policy. This volume will be of interest to students, archaeologists, and readers of Latin American studies.

Famines and other serious food shortages have been one of the scourges faced by humanity for millennia. Plants for Desperate Times is an introduction to the diversity of plant foods that have saved millions of lives during lethal food shortages. While not a field guide, it addresses questions about what famine foods are and why they are important. The work highlights one hundred plants. Each entry includes the common and scientific names, botanical family, distribution, use as a famine food and other uses, and nutritional information. The species come from across the botanical kingdom, demonstrating the diversity of life-saving plants and the human ingenuity of making what might seem to be inedible plants edible. Unexpectedly, important famine foods include alternative uses of important crops as well as native plants. Beyond a study of famine foods, the authors share why keeping an inventory of plant foods of last resort is so important. They help to build an understanding of little-known and underappreciated foods that may have a greater role in provisioning humanity in the future. As much as we may hope that severe food scarcity will never occur again, history suggests otherwise, and Plants for Desperate Times provides invaluable documentation of these vital foods.

The Amazon region is the largest river basin and rainforest ecosystem in the world. It contains billions of trees, which are a vital carbon store to slow down global warming. Amazonia is home to one million indigenous people and some three million species of plants and animals. The future of the world’s largest forest is critical to South America and the planet. However, nine owner nations—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela—have encouraged agriculture, logging, and mining activities, causing a dangerous setback in the effort to protect “the lungs of the world." Due to global importance, the protection of Amazonia is vital. This book includes six chapters that describe the past and present situation of the Amazon region and present positive examples of sustainable development possibilities.