Wild Edible Fruits Crucial for Food Security in South Africa

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by the University of Mpumalanga has highlighted the significance of wild edible fruits in ensuring food and nutritional security, particularly in developing countries. The study, published in the journal Foods, identified 74 wild edible fruit species in South Africa, with the Anacardiaceae family having the most cited species. The research emphasizes the need to document and utilize indigenous knowledge to strengthen rural food security.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified 74 wild edible fruit species in South Africa, belonging to 29 families, with the Anacardiaceae family having the most cited species (n = 11).
  • The nutritional composition was reported only in 41 (55.4%) fruit species, highlighting the need for further research.
  • The three most important wild fruit species contributing to food and nutritional security are Sclerocarya birrea, Mimusops zeyheri, and Strychnos spinosa.
  • The study concluded that there is a lack of literature on the contribution of wild edible fruits to food and nutritional security, emphasizing the need for further research.
  • The research suggests that ethnobotanical evaluation of wild edible fruits used by local people could provide insights and enhance understanding of indigenous and technological knowledge.
  • The study's findings have implications for strengthening rural food security in South Africa.
  • The research was supported by the Vice Chancellor Scholarship, University of Mpumalanga, and the National Research Foundation (Nrf) of South Africa.

Statistics:

  • 74 wild edible fruit species were documented in the study, belonging to 29 families.
  • 41 (55.4%) of the fruit species had their nutritional composition reported.
  • 11 species of the Anacardiaceae family were cited, accounting for 14.86% of the total documented species.
  • 6 species of the Moraceae family were cited, representing 8.1% of the total documented species.
  • 41 (55.4%) fruit species had their nutritional composition reported, while the remaining 33 (44.6%) did not.

Sources:

  • "Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Evaluation of Understudied Wild Edible Fruits in South Africa: Bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Food Security: A Review." Foods, 2025,14(10):1726. (Foods - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/foods)
  • University of Mpumalanga Researchers Yield New Data on Food Research (Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Evaluation of Understudied Wild Edible Fruits in South Africa: Bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Food Security: A Review). Food Weekly News. June 12, 2025; p 556.