Root tuber of Tacca leontopetaloides L. (kunze) for food and nutritional security

Root and tuber crops provide a substantial part of the world food supply and are also an important source of animal feed and industrial products. On a global basic, approximately 45% of root and tuber crop production is consumed as food, with the remainder used as animal feed or for industrial processing for products such as starch, distilled spirit, alcohol and fermented beverages including beer and a range of minor products. Millions of people in many developing countries do not have enough food to meet their daily requirements and many more are deficient in one or more micronutrients. In many cases rural communities depend on wild resources including wild edible plants to meet their food needs in periods of food shortage.