Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to be a launching a new Special Issue in Sustainability titled, "Interdisciplinary approaches to mainstreaming underutilised crops." https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/approaches_c…
Underutilised crops can sustainably address challenges such as increasing drought, food and nutrition insecurity, loss of ecosystem services, and environmental degradation under changing climates, and ultimately strengthen local food systems. They also enhance agro-ecological diversity, ecosystem services, and opportunities for low greenhouse gas (GHG) agriculture as well as terraforming (planting new ecosystems). Their status as a subset of biodiversity provides a nature-based solution to address socio-economic and environmental challenges while enhancing human wellbeing through multiple dimensions such as social cohesion, dignity, equality, and livelihoods derived from use of natural capital.
In response to the need to transform existing agricultural systems, one strategy that is rarely explored is the use of neglected and underutilised species (NUS) as a transformative response to climate change and food and nutrition insecurity. We propose a transdisciplinary approach to mainstreaming indigenous crops into the food system, which includes researchers together with strategic stakeholders working with policy-makers to generate and translate existing evidence to inform policy. This creates opportunities for developing sustainable and healthy food systems, improving livelihoods, health and wellbeing, creating jobs, enhancing agro-biodiversity, and improving environmental sustainability. This would contribute towards the fulfilment of several sustainable development goals (SDGs): SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 15 (life on land). With research and development, and policy to support them, indigenous crops can play an important role in climate change adaptation and transforming food systems while enhancing human wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to attract researchers and practitioners to highlight inter- and transdisciplinary approaches that focus on the following topics related to NUS
* how NUS can contribute to transforming agricultural systems, especially in marginal environments
* topics linking NUS to systemic issues related to:
* Biodiversity - NUS constitute a large portion of agrobiodiversity and promote functional biodiversity that allows for better ecosystem services
* Climate variability and change/climate change adaptation/transformative adaptation
* Water use efficiency/productivity/increasing resource use efficiencies
* Food and nutrition security/enhancing dietary diversity/sustainable diets
* Human health and well-being
* The contribution of NUS to the transformative agenda/transforming food systems/strengthening local food systems
* Policies and their role in supporting and positioning NUS as part of a transformative agenda
Guest Editors
Prof. Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi
Prof. Albert T. Modi
Prof. Dr. Festo Massawe
Dr. Maysoun A. Mustafa
Dr. Pauline Chivenge
Dr. Sukhwinder Singh
We encourage you to contribute your research for consideration for publication in the Special Issue https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/approaches_c…. Submitted manuscripts can include original research articles, reviews, and communications.
Regards,
Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi (PhD, Pr. Sci. Nat.)
Co-Director: Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems
Director: uMngeni Resilience Project
School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Science,
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Carbis Road, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
e: mabhaudhi@ukzn.ac.za<mailto:mabhaudhi@ukzn.ac.za> |t :+27 (0) 33<tel:+27%20(0)%2033> 260 5442/6173 |m: +27 (0)74 130 9845 |s: live:tmabhaudhi
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Sustainability Special Issue on Underutilised Crops.pdf
We are excited to be a launching a new Special Issue in Sustainability titled, "Interdisciplinary approaches to mainstreaming underutilised crops." https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/approaches_c…
Underutilised crops can sustainably address challenges such as increasing drought, food and nutrition insecurity, loss of ecosystem services, and environmental degradation under changing climates, and ultimately strengthen local food systems. They also enhance agro-ecological diversity, ecosystem services, and opportunities for low greenhouse gas (GHG) agriculture as well as terraforming (planting new ecosystems). Their status as a subset of biodiversity provides a nature-based solution to address socio-economic and environmental challenges while enhancing human wellbeing through multiple dimensions such as social cohesion, dignity, equality, and livelihoods derived from use of natural capital.
In response to the need to transform existing agricultural systems, one strategy that is rarely explored is the use of neglected and underutilised species (NUS) as a transformative response to climate change and food and nutrition insecurity. We propose a transdisciplinary approach to mainstreaming indigenous crops into the food system, which includes researchers together with strategic stakeholders working with policy-makers to generate and translate existing evidence to inform policy. This creates opportunities for developing sustainable and healthy food systems, improving livelihoods, health and wellbeing, creating jobs, enhancing agro-biodiversity, and improving environmental sustainability. This would contribute towards the fulfilment of several sustainable development goals (SDGs): SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 15 (life on land). With research and development, and policy to support them, indigenous crops can play an important role in climate change adaptation and transforming food systems while enhancing human wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to attract researchers and practitioners to highlight inter- and transdisciplinary approaches that focus on the following topics related to NUS
* how NUS can contribute to transforming agricultural systems, especially in marginal environments
* topics linking NUS to systemic issues related to:
* Biodiversity - NUS constitute a large portion of agrobiodiversity and promote functional biodiversity that allows for better ecosystem services
* Climate variability and change/climate change adaptation/transformative adaptation
* Water use efficiency/productivity/increasing resource use efficiencies
* Food and nutrition security/enhancing dietary diversity/sustainable diets
* Human health and well-being
* The contribution of NUS to the transformative agenda/transforming food systems/strengthening local food systems
* Policies and their role in supporting and positioning NUS as part of a transformative agenda
Guest Editors
Prof. Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi
Prof. Albert T. Modi
Prof. Dr. Festo Massawe
Dr. Maysoun A. Mustafa
Dr. Pauline Chivenge
Dr. Sukhwinder Singh
We encourage you to contribute your research for consideration for publication in the Special Issue https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/approaches_c…. Submitted manuscripts can include original research articles, reviews, and communications.
Regards,
Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi (PhD, Pr. Sci. Nat.)
Co-Director: Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems
Director: uMngeni Resilience Project
School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Science,
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Carbis Road, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
e: mabhaudhi@ukzn.ac.za<mailto:mabhaudhi@ukzn.ac.za> |t :+27 (0) 33<tel:+27%20(0)%2033> 260 5442/6173 |m: +27 (0)74 130 9845 |s: live:tmabhaudhi
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Attachments
Sustainability Special Issue on Underutilised Crops.pdf
