From African ethnobotanical biodiversity to domestication of new crops for development

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Periodical article

Title:	From African ethnobotanical biodiversity to domestication of new crops for development
Author:	Van Damme, Patrick
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Bulletin des séances = Mededelingen der zittingen
Volume:	54
Issue:	2
Pages:	197-211
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Subsaharan Africa
Subjects:	plants agricultural products ethnobotany
Abstract:	The African continent is rather poor in plant biodiversity when compared to other continents on the equator. Nevertheless, lots of useful plant species have been domesticated from sub-Saharan Africa material. Ethnobotanical research offers the possibility to collect information on use and utility of wild plant species from traditional people often living close to a challenging natural environment. This paper highlights a number of crops with African origins, and also pays attention to a number of useful species with domestication potential, which are currently under consideration for domestication and/or actual development. Specific attention is drawn to the methodology enabling the discovery of new candidates for crop and niche product development, with a specific emphasis on market chain analysis and promotion, and development aspects of the latter process. Bibliogr., sum. in English, French and Dutch. [Journal abstract, edited]