Rare and under-cultivated vegetable crops for livestock and human health

Health and nutrition play a prime role in human longevity. Leafy vegetables are plant products used as salad, steamed, or cooked to supply food and support health. Some of these (Alternanthera sessilis, Aerva lanata, and Moringa oleifera) are under-cultivated globally due to their production constraints, climate adaptability, lack of knowledge in the supply of seed to non-traditional areas, and are underutilized due to a lack of awareness, though available in the market. The description of the vegetable part(s) of the crop, their production statistics if available, nutrition, and health benefits through their inclusion in human or livestock diet, research done to date with improvements in breeding and biotechnology, will be presented.

Dr. Satya S. S. Narina is a distinguished horticultural scientist, educator, and author with over two decades of contributions to research and academic publishing. With roots in a traditional farming family in Konaseema, Andhra Pradesh, India, she earned her Ph.D. in Vegetable Science from the prestigious Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi. Her career began with a focus on improving minor tuber crops at Agriculture research Station, YSR Horticulture University, in Andhra Pradesh India. It evolved into research on nutritionally important and emerging crops with institutions such as Virginia State University, and USDA-ARS.