{"product_id":"lost-crops-of-africa-national-research-council-9780309049900","title":"Lost Crops of Africa: Volume I: Grains","description":"\u003cp\u003eScenes of starvation have drawn the world's attention to Africa's agricultural and environmental crisis. Some observers question whether this continent can ever hope to feed its growing population. Yet there is an overlooked food resource in sub-Saharan Africa that has vast potential: native food plants.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen experts were asked to nominate African food plants for inclusion in a new book, a list of 30 species grew quickly to hundreds. All in all, Africa has more than 2,000 native grains and fruits--\"lost\" species due for rediscovery and exploitation.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis volume focuses on native cereals, including: \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eAfrican rice, reserved until recently as a luxury food for religious rituals.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eFinger millet, neglected internationally although it is a staple for millions.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eFonio (acha), probably the oldest African cereal and sometimes called \"hungry rice.\"\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePearl millet, a widely used grain that still holds great untapped potential.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eSorghum, with prospects for making the twenty-first century the \"century of sorghum.\"\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eTef, in many ways ideal but only now enjoying budding commercial production.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOther cultivated and wild grains.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis readable and engaging book dispels myths, often based on Western bias, about the nutritional value, flavor, and yield of these African grains.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDesigned as a tool for economic development, the volume is organized with increasing levels of detail to meet the needs of both lay and professional readers. The authors present the available information on where and how each grain is grown, harvested, and processed, and they list its benefits and limitations as a food source.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors describe \"next steps\" for increasing the use of each grain, outline research needs, and address issues in building commercial production.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSidebars cover such interesting points as the potential use of gene mapping and other \"high-tech\" agricultural techniques on these grains.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis fact-filled volume will be of great interest to agricultural experts, entrepreneurs, researchers, and individuals concerned about restoring food production, environmental health, and economic opportunity in sub-Saharan Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSelection, Newbridge Garden Book Club\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e National Research Council,Policy and Global Affairs,Office of International Affairs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0309049903\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780309049900\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e National Academies Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/14\/1996\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 408\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.22lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.01h x 6.05w x 0.90d","brand":"National Research Council","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48064821854463,"sku":"9780309049900","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_dd6c2eeb-5817-4b57-94b7-eb6738d191f3.jpg?v=1768671257","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/lost-crops-of-africa-national-research-council-9780309049900","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}