Neglected and Underutilised Species (NUS): Potential for Food and Nutrition Security – a Knowledge Review

Of the thousands of edible plant species estimated to exist worldwide, global food systems are currently domi-nated by only three crop species: rice, wheat and maize. These provide more than 50% of the world’s daily requirements of calories and protein and cover around 40% of global arable land [1]. Nearly 80%–90% of hu-man total dietary intake comes from just 12–20 species [2]. While the focus on high yielding crops has driven remarkable productivity gains, it has not always translated into improved food security or nutrition outcomes. Instead, it has increased the vulnerability to a variety of shocks, including climate change effects and extreme weather events. It also contributed to the erosion of agro-biodiversity and exacerbated the risks of crop fail-ures, ultimately reducing the resilience of food systems.