Grain amaranth: A versatile untapped climate-smart crop for enhancing food and nutritional security

Abstract

Abstract Globally, food and nutritional state are marked by an acute prevalence of undernourishment, leading to malnutrition, starvation, and poverty. This state has remained vital for the past years, making attaining zero hunger for the anticipated period (2030) in Africa less possible. To alleviate this challenge, more sustainable food production systems, policy frameworks, mindset changes, and diversification of the food production systems must include some highly nutritious underutilized orphan crops. Acknowledging the potential of untapped, versatile, and climate resilience, Amaranthus significantly promotes sustainable and nutrient-rich food systems. Amaranth grain is a pseudocereal with 4 g of protein and 19 g of carbohydrates per 100 g of cooked amaranth. It is a nutrient powerhouse constituting valuable nutraceuticals, protein, and carbohydrates. Grain amaranth yield ranges from 1500 to 7200 kg/ha. Yield variableness of grain amaranth, lays openings for scientists and researchers to study crop improvement and access a rich pool of genetic materials. These attributes make Amaranthus (amaranth) the most suitable crop candidate in these climate change scenarios. The Amaranthus spp. are popularly known as weedy species and largely undomesticated crops with good adaptability to various geographical locations. Despite its good adaptability, it is less known, under-exploited, and less popular as human food, and its production is very scanty, especially in southern Africa. Efforts are needed to promote its adoption and commercialization. The authors searched pieces of literature in books, journals, and conference papers to establish the potential usage of Amaranthus, its nutritional composition, and its production practices.

Keywords

• Food security
• Grain amaranth
• Nutritional security
• Malnutrition
• Underutilized crops