Mapping underutilised and emerging food sources and technologies as solutions to food insecurity in South Africa

Abstract

There are clear signs that the South African food system is failing as we experience increasing trends in hunger, rising food costs, lack of dietary diversity, child stunting, foodborne illnesses, food waste and an obesity epidemic coupled with malnutrition. A literature review was conducted to identify underutilised or emerging new food sources and technologies (UEFST). They were identified as indigenous African crops (IACs), insects, fermentation, cultured meat and seafood, food waste recovery and algae. Criteria were developed to assess these UEFST to evaluate their ability to provide affordable, nutritious, safe and relevant food for South Africans (ANSSA). A survey was conducted with food professionals from industry, academia and government to evaluate these UEFST against the ANSSA criteria. Findings indicate that the two most promising UEFSTs – IACs and food waste recovery – could be available to South Africans within three to five years. These sources were rated highest in their ability to meet the ANSSA criteria identified. The two underutilised or emerging food sources with the longest time frame to commercialisation were cultured meat and seafood and algae (5 to 10 years), with cultured meat and seafood scoring the lowest of all six UEFST against the ANSSA criteria.

Significance:

• Underutilised and emerging food sources offer South Africa new solutions to address food security.
• Indigenous African crops and recovery and valorisation of food waste are the most promising short-term options to address food security.
• South African stakeholders from academia, government and industry will need to invest in research, product development, capability-building, scale-up and an agile regulatory environment for these underutilised and emerging food sources to reach commercialisation.