The global food system has been in a tenuous bind since the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This has resulted in sanctions against Russia, who were known as a prime wheat exporter. Combined with the longstanding threat of climate change and it’s impact on crop growth, our diets may look a little different in the next few decades.
More countries, such as Botswana, are leaning towards creating greater food security for their residents. For some, this means banning imports of specific crops from other countries.
More research is being conducted into climate resilient crops. Essentially, these are crops that are typically drought-resistant, as Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the parts of the globe most impacted by increasing temperatures due to global warming.
We look at some lesser-known crops we may be eating in the next few decades:
Morama beans
These are a type of legume that can be found in southern Africa. They are native to the Kalahari desert, and can also be found in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.
In South Africa specifically, they are bounteous in Limpopo, Gauteng, the Northern Cape, and North West. These beans are a rich source of protein, and are naturally cholesterol free.
“Morama is a good source of micronutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, phosphate, magnesium, and B vitamins including folate,” according to research via Science Direct.
Enset (false banana)
This crop is known for its drought-resistant qualities, and is a relative of the banana. It is called “false banana” because the two look similar, with enset growing smaller and denser.
In South Africa, the flowering plant thrives in the warm Limpopo province. It is also found in the tropics of Africa and Asia, as well as New Guinea. There are a reported 25 different species of enset in the genus, and only one species that is unique to South Africa.
It produces pulp, pea-sized peas and roots that can be eaten. Its seeds are popularly eaten in famine-struck countries such as Ethiopia.
“The seeds are also used as beads, and to make rosaries or rattles in East Africa. The leaves can be used for thatching and the stalk to make fibres for cordage and sacking,” according to SANBI.
Amaranth
Amaranth is considered an “ancient grain”, and this means it has remained relatively unchanged or modified through means such as selective breeding.
The grain is rising in popularity as more South Africans pay attention to including indigenous crops in their diets. It is a good source of plant-based protein, and is also iron-rich, according to Dr William Janse from the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC).
Hyacinth bean (lablab)
The hyacinth bean is an annual legume that is known for imparting nitrogen into soil, improving its overall quality.
In South Africa it is known as a protein that is often added to livestock fodder, but there is one drawback to the consumption of this bean. It can only be consumed when young, because the mature or dried beans are considered poisonous for human consumption. As the bean matures, it produces cyanogenic glucoside levels, which acts as a poison when ingested.
So don’t discount these crops, with climate change hammering on our doors, it might just become our saving grace.
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