IMAGE CREDIT: CHATGPT
In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, children struggle to grow properly, women face dangerous pregnancies, and communities lose valuable energy to anaemia. Caused largely by a lack of iron in diets, this “hidden hunger” affects nearly half of children under five and over one in three pregnant women in the region.
Anaemia stunts brain development in children, increases the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight, and drains national economies by reducing productivity. Yet, amid this crisis, researchers say Africa may be sitting on an untapped treasure: its own wild food plants.
A recent scientific review in Plants, People and Planet which looked at 44 indigenous African plants with unusually high iron levels. These are not new inventions–they are fruits, leaves, roots, and seeds that rural communities have used for generations. But they remain largely ignored in formal nutrition programs.
“Integrating local biodiversity into the diets of vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women, children and displaced populations, offers a sustainable strategy to combat iron deficiency anaemia,” the paper authors say.
Take moringa leaves, eaten widely in villages but dismissed in cities. They contain iron, vitamin C, protein, and calcium, all in one. Or the desert date, a hardy tree whose fruits can supply a person’s daily iron needs in just a couple of bites. The brown ivory tree produces fruits that not only carry high iron but also vitamin C, which helps the body absorb it better.
Other plants like jute mallow, African nightshade, and amaranth seeds are equally powerful, offering a mix of iron and essential nutrients. Even tubers like taro add to the list, making these foods both diverse and resilient in the face of climate stress.
The stubborn presence of anaemia in Africa is not just about biology–it’s about diets. Most households rely on staple foods like rice, maize, or cassava, which are filling but low in iron. Meat, the richest source of iron, is too expensive for many families. Meanwhile, fruits and vegetables that aid iron absorption are often seasonal or costly in cities.
On top of this, infections such as malaria and HIV worsen anaemia, while conflict and displacement make access to food even harder. Poverty ties it all together, leaving millions at risk.
What makes wild plants special is that they are cheap, local, and resilient. Many grow naturally even in drought-prone or poor soils, meaning communities can rely on them when harvests of major crops fail. They are also available in different seasons, filling nutrition gaps during lean months.
Studies show that adding wild vegetables to diets can reduce food costs by up to 70 percent, while still meeting iron and zinc needs. For families on tight budgets, that is a game-changer.
Another advantage is cultural familiarity. These plants are already part of traditional diets–soups, porridges, teas, and street foods. With proper promotion, people can return to them without needing to change habits drastically.
“Wild food plants are available throughout the year in SSA, and their availability depends on seasonality, abundance, market access, price and accessibility to harvesting sites,” authors write.
The barriers, what should change
Despite their potential, wild plants face stigma. Many young people see them as “poor man’s food,” and urban families prefer packaged or imported foods. Traditional knowledge about when and how to harvest and prepare them is also fading.
There are technical challenges too. Some plants contain compounds that reduce nutrient absorption. But researchers point out that simple methods like boiling, drying, or fermenting can neutralize these effects while boosting iron availability.
Most importantly, there is little policy attention. Governments and aid programs often push imported supplements or fortified grains instead of promoting homegrown biodiversity. As a result, wild plants remain on the sidelines of Africa’s food system.
The researchers argue that it’s time for a shift. Documenting these plants, promoting their cultivation, and supporting small industries to process them into powders, flours, or juices could make them attractive to modern consumers. Campaigns in schools and clinics could highlight their health benefits, especially for pregnant women and children.
Some countries have already started. Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya now cultivate moringa on a large scale, while Sudan promotes grewia and roselle as commercial products. But efforts remain scattered and small.
A coordinated push could transform wild plants into mainstream nutrition sources–helping Africa tackle anaemia sustainably while preserving its biodiversity and culture.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Africa’s future is in Africa’s hands, and we are building it now. It will be a global centre for climate solutions,” said Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie at the closing of the Africa Climate Summit.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Scientists in South Africa have found that black mambas, one of the world’s deadliest snakes, can also act as environmental watchdogs. A new study in Durban revealed that these snakes absorb toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic depending on where they live. Mambas near factories and busy roads carried much higher levels than those in protected reserves. Most of the metals accumulate in their scales, meaning researchers can test for pollution without harming the snakes. Since black mambas stay close to their habitats and feed on local rodents, they provide a clear picture of neighborhood-level pollution. [Reference: Environmental Pollution]
Air Pollution in African Schools: A new study by the University of Liverpool, Kenya Medical Research Institute, and Rwanda Biomedical Center has found dangerously high levels of air pollution in schools across Rwanda and Kenya caused by biomass-fueled cooking. The study measured exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide, revealing kitchen pollution up to 19.5 times higher than WHO guidelines, with cooks experiencing the highest risks and children also heavily exposed. Symptoms like headaches, coughing, and eye irritation were widespread among pupils and staff.
With 368 million African children receiving school meals mostly cooked on polluting stoves, researchers warn of serious long-term health impacts and urge urgent adoption of clean cooking solutions such as electricity, solar, and LPG to protect health, enhance learning, and support sustainable energy transitions. [Reference, Environmental Research]
A Better Way to Track Africa’s Fires: A study of fire patterns in Southeastern Africa using two types of satellites–Sentinel-2, which captures fine details, and MODIS, which provides a broader but less detailed view–found that Sentinel-2 detected many small fires missed by MODIS, especially in places like Madagascar where farming and grazing are common.
The research showed that both nature and people play a big role in fire activity. Rainfall and vegetation affect how much fuel is available, while human factors–such as population, development, and land use–determine how often and when fires occur. In simple terms, fires are not just about climate; they are also strongly shaped by people’s daily activities and land management practices. [Reference: JGR Biogeosciences]
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