What do we know about the future of roots, tubers, and bananas in relation to food systems?

Evelyne Kihiu, Guy Hareau, Sika Gbegbelegbe, Robert Andrade, Athanasios Petsakos and Arega D. Alene

Chapter 33 in What do we know about the future of food systems?, 2025-07-21, pp p. 196-200 from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Abstract: Root, tuber, and banana (RT&B) crops are vital for food and nutrition security, providing quick calories, buffering against food crises, and offering opportunities for gender empowerment, particularly in seed systems. Their resilience to adverse weather and their sustainable integration into diverse farming systems enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impact. Production and consumption of fresh and processed RT&B crops are projected to increase by 17 percent and 9 percent, respectively, by 2050 in developing countries. Total RT&B production could reach almost 1.4 billion tons, with sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) emerging as the world’s leading supplier of RT&B crops. RT&Bs are mostly nontraded crops, although opportunities exist in some areas, such as intraregional exports of bananas from some SSA countries and cross-border trade of fresh potatoes between countries in Africa and Asia. Improving foresight research on biotic and abiotic stresses, trade, labor, and the efficiency of processing capacity and reducing postharvest losses in RT&B crops could contribute to stabilizing their supply in the developing world, lowering import reliance, and creating local economic opportunities.

Keywords: roots; tubers; bananas; seed systems; food systems; nutrition security; food security; postharvest losses; abiotic stress; biotic stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-07-21
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