Produce from Africa's Gardens: Potential for Leafy Vegetable and Fruit Fermentations

Torna indietro

Abstract

A rich variety of indigenous fruits and vegetables grow in Africa, which contribute to thenutrition and health of Africa's populations. Fruits and vegetables have high moistureand are thus inherently prone to accelerated spoilage. Food fermentation still plays amajor role in combating food spoilage and foodborne diseases that are prevalent inmany of Africa's resource disadvantaged regions. Lactic acid fermentation is probablythe oldest and best-accepted food processing method among the African people,and is largely a home-based process. Fermentation of leafy vegetables and fruits is,however, underutilized in Africa, although such fermented products could contributetoward improving nutrition and food security in this continent, where many are stillmalnourished and suffer from hidden hunger. Fermentation of leafy vegetables and fruitsmay not only improve safety and prolong shelf life, but may also enhance the availabilityof some trace minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Cassava, cow-peas, amaranth,African nightshade, and spider plant leaves have a potential for fermentation, as dovarious fruits for the production of vinegars or fruit beers and wines. What is needed toaccelerate efforts for production of fermented leaves and vegetables is the developmentof fermentation protocols, training of personnel and scale-up of production methods.Furthermore, suitable starter cultures need to be developed and produced to guaranteethe success of the fermentations.

Autore Pugliese

Tutti gli autori

  • Oguntoyinbo F.A.; Fusco V.; Cho G.-S.; Kabisch J.; Neve H.; Bockelmann W.; Huch M.; Frommherz L.; Trierweiler B.; Becker B.; Benomar N.; Gálvez A.; Abriouel H.; Holzapfel W.H.; Franz C.M.A.P.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Frontiers in microbiology

Anno di pubblicazione

2016

ISSN

1664-302X

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

Non Disponibile

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile