Hunger And Undernourishment Positioning Wild Edible...

Hunger and undernourishment: Positioning Wild Edible Plants in food security and nutrition debates in forest areas in the Congo Basin By Tata-Ngome Precillia Ijang1,25, Charlie Shackleton2, Ann Degrande3, Julius Chupezi Tieguhong4 1 Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) - Cameroon 2 Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa 3 World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Yaounde, Cameroon 4 Bioversity International, Yaounde, Cameroon 5 2014 McNamara fellow, Rhodes University Abstract Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) are often relegated in measuring household nutrition because no suitable food group categories exist that simplify their appraisal in conducting food consumption surveys. This paper is a theoretical article that triggers the positioning of WEPs in food security discussions so that programmes and policies can be more targeted. It discusses the diverging approaches adopted by food systems policies and nutrition programs to address malnutrition; and without considering WEPs. Among others, three food categories and 12 sub-groups are engendered to develop an understanding on how WEPs could be mainstreamed into food security and nutrition debates. Key words: Food groups, Food security, Nutrition, Wild Edible Plants Introduction Progress in achieving dietary adequacy for the world’s population is challenging (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2013; FAO, 2013; Termont et al., 2010). First, feeding the world’s increasing population is