Assessment of the Nutritional Value of Selected Wild Food Plants in Türkiye and Their Promotion for Improved Nutrition

Teresa Borelli (), Nurcan Ayşar Güzelsoy, Danny Hunter, Ayfer Tan, Sevinç Karabak, Huriye Özgül Uçurum, Filiz Çavuş, Saadet Tuğrul Ay, Neşe Adanacıoğlu, Kürşad Özbek, Birgül Özen, Emre Tokat and Rahmi Taşçı
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Teresa Borelli: Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, 00153 Rome, Italy
Nurcan Ayşar Güzelsoy: Central Research Institute of Food and Feed Control, 16160 Bursa, Türkiye
Danny Hunter: Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, 00153 Rome, Italy
Ayfer Tan: Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, 35661 Menemen, Türkiye
Sevinç Karabak: Field Crops Central Research Institute, Şehit Cem Ersever Cad. No: 11 Yenimahalle, 06560 Ankara, Türkiye
Huriye Özgül Uçurum: Central Research Institute of Food and Feed Control, 16160 Bursa, Türkiye
Filiz Çavuş: Central Research Institute of Food and Feed Control, 16160 Bursa, Türkiye
Saadet Tuğrul Ay: Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Department of Agricultural Services, Yüksekalan Mahallesi Adnan Menderes Bulvarı No: 20, Muratpaşa, 07310 Antalya, Türkiye
Neşe Adanacıoğlu: Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, 35661 Menemen, Türkiye
Kürşad Özbek: Directorate of National Botanical Gardens of Türkiye, Üniversiteler, Çankaya, 06800 Ankara, Türkiye
Birgül Özen: General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Üniversiteler Mah. Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Eskişehir Yolu 10. Km, Çankaya, 06800 Ankara, Türkiye
Emre Tokat: Central Research Institute of Food and Feed Control, 16160 Bursa, Türkiye
Rahmi Taşçı: Field Crops Central Research Institute, Şehit Cem Ersever Cad. No: 11 Yenimahalle, 06560 Ankara, Türkiye

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: Türkiye represents one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, containing over 11,000 species of plants, with an estimated 10% being edible. Wild food plants, especially in rural areas, are collected and eaten or sold in local markets, complementing people’s diets, and represent a source of additional income for foraging households. Yet, the use of wild food plants is declining, with both their dietary and cultural values being undermined. Wild food plants can be used as a healthy dietary alternative to imported and ultra-processed foods, particularly as the Turkish population increasingly suffers from diet-related diseases. Using a unique and innovative approach to mainstream biodiversity for food and nutrition, wild food plants from five different regions of Türkiye were analyzed to determine their nutrient composition, and to evaluate their contribution not only to diets and nutrition, but to promoting a more sustainable food system. Examples are presented of how the approach was put into practice and how action was taken to (i) strengthen the evidence of the nutritional value of wild food plants; (ii) use this knowledge to shape new policies and identify emerging markets for food biodiversity; and, (iii) improve awareness of consumers, using capacity building and farmer training, gastronomy, and cultural events.

Keywords: wild food plants; Türkiye; biodiversity for food and nutrition; biodiversity mainstreaming; cross-sectoral policies; value chain development; awareness raising (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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