In an October 23 article in The Telegraph, Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted and Ismahane Elouafi argue for a transformative approach to global food production. The authors point to precarious human dependency on just six staple crops that account for 75 percent of the world’s plant-derived energy intake. The war in Ukraine has illustrated the risk of relying on such a limited food supply. Supply constraints in key staples have increased global food insecurity and led to a surge in malnutrition rates. Thilsted and Elouafi advocate for a shift towards diversification, urging nations to move beyond conventional food sources. The authors argue that finding alternative sources of high-quality nutrition is not an option but a necessity.
Thilsted and Elouafi propose a shift in global food supplies, advocating for the diversification beyond the traditional ‘big three’ crops – rice, maize, and wheat, and suggest considering overlooked but nutrient-rich and climate-resilient crops like quinoa and millets. They also advocate for adopting biofortified crops, such as orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and iron-enriched beans, to address micronutrient deficiencies. Thilsted and Elouafi highlight the potential of aquatic foods, with over 3,700 species offering a wealth of vitamins and essential fatty acids. The article highlights the urgent need to rethink and reinforce food systems by embracing a diverse range of underused, nutritious alternatives. These include, of course, dried fish.