Neglected Crops: 1492 from a Different Perspective (FAO Plant Production and Protection Series, No.26) ISBN 92-5-103217-3
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This book contains a study of 65 crops, mostly of American origin, which for social, agronomic or biological reasons have lost their importance over the last 500 years. Some of them have been marginalized with respect to their original function or their potential uses; others have practically been forgotten. They are plant species which, at other times or under other conditions, played a fundamental role in the agriculture and food supply of indigenous peoples and local communities. Their neglect was in many cases the result of the deliberate suppression of self-sufficient ways of life which characterized traditional cultures. This work, coordinated by Dr J.E. Hernández Bermejo (Spain) and Dr J. León (Costa Rica), includes the contributions of 31 authors from nine countries. Its preparation was promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in collaboration with the Botanical Garden of Córdoba (Spain) as a contribution to the Etnobotánica 92 Programme. The book comprises an introductory section, which deals with America's plant genetic resources and the processes that caused the marginalization of certain NEGLECTED CROPS 1492 from a different perspective FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No.26 ,r-)) ea al/ Iernindez 1B e - ublished incol labor with the taraical Garden of ar (Spain) as part of the botánica 92 Pro)gramir (Andalusia,1992) FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 1994 The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. David Lubin Memorial Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Botanical Garden of Córdoba (Spain) Neglected crops: 1492 from a different perspective (FAO Plant Production and Protection Series, no.26) ISBN 92-5-103217-3 1. Plant product ion2. Marginal farms3. Crops 4. Trends I. TitleII. Series III. FAO, Rome (Italy) IV. Hernández Bermejo, J.E.V. León, J. FAO code: 11 AGRIS: E01 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Publications Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. 0 FAO 1994 Forewo re Throughout history, human beings have used thousands of plant species for food, many of which have also been domesticated. Today only 150 plant species are cultivated, 12 of which provide approximately 75 percent ofour food and four of which produce over half of the food we eat. This involution has increased the vulnerability of agriculture and impoverished the human diet. As a result, many local crops that have traditionally been important for feeding the poorest sectors of society are nowadays underutilized or neglected. There can be no doubt that the use, domestication and cultivation of the most widespread plant species have to a great extent been brought about accidentally and are conditioned by the social, economic and political values of the dominant cultures. It is highly likely that, had the process been carefully planned and the species selected on the basis of the scientific data available to us today, the result would have been different. At present, new biotechnologies constitute a powerful means of halting the involution process and, consequently, of accelerating the domestication of other promising plants as well as the genetic improvement of those that have been neglected. However, the economic and political interest necessary to pro- mote research that would benefit the poorest social strata with the least purchasing power may be lacking. The discovery of America, which brought into contact two different worlds with their own history, cultures and traditions, at the same time formed a bridge between two ecological macrocosms. When the settlers arrived in America, as well as their language, religion and customs, they brought with them plants that were cultivated on the Eurasian continent. In return, together with tales of amazing riches, mysterious cultures and exotic customs, they took back products of the earth that were unknown in the Old World. Thus began a long-lasting exchange of plants and animals which profoundly transformed eating habits on both sides of the Atlantic in the following centuries. In the course of this exchange, products that in the past had occupied a prominent place in the economies and -food supplies of vast regions, particularly in Latin America, either disappeared or were set aside, giving way to crops from the other continent. Eventually, the changein eating habits that was triggered by the introduction of these plants, which were not always well suited to local agro-ecological conditions, created a food and vi economic dependence in some countries of Central and South America which, today, remains a serious obstacle to their development. At a time when the world is experiencing an exponential increase in its population and is anxiously wondering if it will be able to bring an end to the hunger and scarcity of food that now exist in many regions without causing fresh damage to our natural environment, it would seem logical to look to the past for possible solutions in species that have fed humanity throughout its history. Such is the aim of this book which, beginning with an analysis of the characteristics of these plants, attempts to identify possible areas of research and development in order to facilitate, where possible, their reintroduction in regions to which they had become so well adapted over the centuries. Its purpose, therefore, is eminently practical and, in cooperation with institu- tions active in this field and with possible donors, it aims at reawakening an interest in the efficient exploitation and distribution of these crops. This work is also a first step towards implementing the principles stated at the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development, held recently in Rio de Janeiro, and is in keeping with FAO's continuous effort to find systems and methods of cultivation that make it possible to combine development with a respect for the environment. Edouard Saouma Director-General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations CC) ntrflitS Foreword Abbreviations Preface INTRODUCTION Plant genetic resources of the New World 3 Genetic resources 3 The major phytogeographical regions 4 Biodiversity of American flora 7 Cultural relationships 7 Distribution of genetic diversity 8 Changes since 1500 10 The challenge of conservation 10 Ornamental plants 11 Medicinal plants 11 Introduction of flora from the Old World and causes of crop marginalization 23 Degree of marginalization of American plants 24 Causes of the marginalization of useful plants 26 Conclusion 29 AGRICULTURE IN MESOAMERICA 35 Domesticated plants and neglected crops in Mesoamerica 37 Physical geography and human occupation 37 Past cultures 33 Agricultural systems 33 Domesticated plants 40 Marginalization of crops in Mesoamerica 43 Beans (Phaseolus spp.) 47 Phaseolus coccineus 48 Phaseolus acunfolius 52 Phaseolus lunatus 54 Phaseolus polyanthus 58 Cucurbits (Cucurbita spp.) 63 Cucurbita argyrosperma 63 Cucurbitct pepo 67 Cucurbita moschata 71 Cucurbita ficifolia 74 Chayote (Sechium edule) 79 Custard apples (Annona spp.) 85 Annona diversifolia 86 Annona reticulata 89 Annona scleroderma 90 Grain amaranths (Amararghus spp.) 93 Amaranthus cruentus, Amaranthus hypochondriacus Sapote (Pouteria sapota) 103 Spanish plum, red mombin (Spondias purpurea) 111 Tomatill sk-to m ato (Physalis philadelphica) 117 ANDEAN AGRICULTURE 123 Neglected crops of *die Andean region 125 Andean grains and legumes 131 Canihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule) 131 Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) 135 Andean lupin (Lupinus nuttabilis) 139 Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) 144 Andean tubers 149 Oca (Oxalis tuberosa) 149 Mashwa (Tropaeolum tuberosum) 152 Bitter potatoes (Solanum X juzepczukii), (Solanumx curtilobum) 154 Ullucu (Ullucus tuberosus) 159 ix Andean roots 165 Maca (Lepidium meyenii) 165 Arracacha (Arracada xanthorrhiza) 168 Mauka, chago (Mirabilis expansa) 172 Leafcup (Polymnia sonchtfolia) 176 Andean fruits 181 Pepino (Solanurn muricatum) 181 Tree tomato (Cyphornandra betacea) 185 Mountain papaw (Carica pubescens) 188 AMAZONIAN AND CARIBBEAN AGRICULTURE 193 Crops of the Amazon and Orinoco regions: their origin, decline and future 195 Origins of agriculture and genetic diversity 196 The decline of the Amazon and Orinoco regions 196 Current erosion of genetic and cultural resources 199 Crops and wild species that deserve attention 200 New directions for neotropical agricultural development 201 Cupuaçu (Thecbrcma grandiflorum) 205 Peach-palm (Bactris gasipaes) 211 Species of Paullinia with economic poterflial 223 Guarana (Paullinia cupana) 223 SulAropical Myrtaceae 229 Jaboticaba (Myrciariaspp.) 229 Arazá (Eugenia stipitata) 230 Feijoa (Feijoa 233 Guinea arrowroot (Calathea allouia) 239 Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) 245 Tannia, yautia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) 253 ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: SPAIN 259 Processes and causes of marginalization: