



Benefits of Native Crops [ edit ]

Native crops can be expected to fit the ecology of the region, and be able to grow in the climate and soil of the region. They can also play an important role in reducing the distance food needs to travel. [1] However, native crops may not always be as productive as the more popular domesticated counterparts or attain equally high prices. The latter is often a result of being not well known (and thus disliked) by the population (at least at first).

Native crops should always be considered in agriculture as they are generally hardier and thus safer crops in terms of providing food (especially today, with global warming affecting the precipitation pattern). They are however not the most appropriate choice in some situations. Especially where unwanted propagation, and contact to the outside environment can be reduced/eliminated (ie use in greenhouses, sterile crops, ...) non-indigenous crops may be a suitable option.

Types of Native Crops by Region [ edit ]

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Type of crops indicated in this article [ edit ]

Primary crops: divided in primary crops carbohydrates and primary crops protein. Secondary crops: These are generally herbs, spices (most widely used kitchen herbs/spices) or crops for making beverages Supplementary (or tertiary) crops: These crops are generally sweet crops or sweeteners

Not indicated crops [ edit ]

Fruits or "quartary crops" are not indicated on this page. Quintary crops or vegetables are also not indicated. Separate maps of both can be found via the links below.

Native Crops by Region [ edit ]

Region Importance Use Crops East Asia Primary Protein soybean [2], wild Azuki bean[3][4], wild rice bean[5] Carbohydrate rice, foxtail millet [6][7] Secondary tea bush [8] Supplementary monk fruit [9][10] Oceania Primary Carbohydrate yam[11], swamp taro [12] Secondary great morinda [13], common nutmeg[14] Supplementary sugarcane [15], Arenga palm[16], Asian Palmyra Palm [17], Nypa fruticans [18], True Sago Palm (for palm sugar production)[19], New Guinea Palmyra Palm[20][21] coconut [22] Central Asia Primary Protein Moringa oleifera [23], broad bean[24][25]Moth bean [26][27], Horse Gram[28][29]Guar bean, [30][31]wild Mung bean [32], Wild pigeon pea [33], Black gram[34]wild Velvet bean [35][36] Carbohydrate taro [37] Secondary black pepper [38], Hibiscus sabdariffa [39], lemon grass [40], Ceylon cinnamon [41], basil [42] Supplementary Indian date palm (for palm sugar production)[43], Caryota urens [44] West Asia and South Europe Primary Protein oat [45][46], wild pea [47], wild chickpea[48], lentil [49] Carbohydrate wheat, rye [50][51], wild parsnip[52] Secondary rosemary [53], spear mint [54], dill [55], coriander [56], saffron [57], anise [58], black and white mustard [59] Supplementary Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) [60][61] North Africa and South Africa Primary Protein wild cow pea[62][63] Carbohydrate pearl millet, barley [64][65] Secondary Kola nut [66] Supplementary African Palmyra Palm[67], Ake Assi's Palmyra Palm[68][69] Borassus madagascariensis[70][71] Central Africa Primary Protein Wild hyacinth bean[72], White Wild Musk Mallow[73][74][75], Psophocarpus grandiflorus R. Wilczek[76][77] Carbohydrate Sorghum bicolor, teff [78][79] Secondary coffee plant (coffea arabica, coffea robusta)[80] North Europe, North Asia, and North America Primary Protein Amaranthus hypochondriacus[81][82][83], American groundnut[84], wild tepary bean[85][86], slimjim bean [87] Flatpod peavine[88] Carbohydrate Northern wild rice [89], Wild rice[90], Texas wild rice[91], Jerusalem artichoke[92][93] buckwheat[94][95], Manchurian wild rice[96] Secondary sassafras albidum [97], Ephedra [98] rosa canina [99], small-leaved linden [100], valerian [101], chamomile [102], garlic/Allium longicuspis [103] Supplementary birch (Betula papyrifera var. humilis and Betula neoalaskana)[104], sugar maple[105] honey (from Apis mellifera mellifera)[106][107][108], sweet cicely root[109],licorice [110] Central America Primary Protein Amaranthus cruentus [111][112][113][114],wild runner bean[115][116] Carbohydrate maize [117] Secondary vanilla [118] Supplementary sugar pine [119], Agave salmiana, Agave tequilana [120] South America (north) Primary Protein quinoa [121][122][123], Amaranthus caudatus [124][125][126][127], lima bean [128][129], peanut, Lupinus piurensis[130][131][132] Carbohydate potato [133] Secondary Capsicum annuum [134], guarana [135] Supplementary Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni and other species [136][137], yacón syrup [138] South America (central) Primary Carbohydrate cassava [139] South America (south) Primary Carbohydrate sweet potato [140][141] Secondary yerba maté [142]

References [ edit ]

Note [ edit ]

It would be useful to use wild perennial versions for the grain crops where possible [1]

Rapeseed is another important protein-crop which however has not been mentioned here. This as press cakes are consumable by humans [2] and as these contain a huge amount of protein. You can find rapeseed indicated at File:Oil_crops.png

and as these contain a huge amount of protein. You can find rapeseed indicated at File:Oil_crops.png Sugar beet wasn't included as it is a selected species from Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima

Kombucha not mentioned as it can be made anywhere without danger of introducing a exotic species to the area (uses a bacteria or yeast)

Coca (for coca maté) and kava not mentioned neither, despite being a important local drink. This, as they're mostly mind-altering substances rather than true drinks (unlike yeasted beverages (containing ethanol), they can cause vomoting, ... even when consuming small amounts)

Finally note that many beverages (ie lemonade, ...) require fruit juice (often from citrus such as lime or lemon). Refer to the Fruits and nuts map for this, not btw that these too have low caloric contents (other citrus crops have higher caloric contents)

Further information [ edit ]

↑ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804071358.htm Perennial grain crops advocated by The Land Institute] ↑ KATHO in Roeselaere, Belgium makes pastes and energy bars from this for human consumption