Experts have pinpointed five plant-based “foods of the future” that could help feed a rapidly growing global population but today are only eaten in localised areas.
A major report by the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, called the State of the World's Plants and Fungi, says that of the world's 7,039 edible plant species only 417 are regarded as food crops.
Just 15 crop plants contribute to 90 per cent of energy intake of the human race, while more than four billion people rely on rice, maize and wheat in a world where many suffer from malnutrition and experience hunger.
Scientists warned that around 40 per cent of plant species are at risk of extinction.
“The conservation and sustainable use of the widest diversity of crops and varieties is intrinsically linked to sustainable agriculture and food systems,” said Dr Rémi Nono Womdim, deputy director of the Plant Production and Protection Division at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, who contributed to the research.
“We wanted to address these vital issues and highlight the importance of using a broader diversity of crops to ensure a resilient, sustainable and nutritionally rich agricultural future.”
But what are the five edible plants that could be more commonplace in the future?
Akkoub – Gundelia tournefortii
The thistle-like plant Akkoub grows in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East and its flower heads typically are eaten as a side vegetable. It can be pickled, fried in olive oil and garlic or added to omelette, meat and chickpea dishes.
Experts warn, however, that it must be sustainably grown. “Akkoub is heavily harvested from the wild, which drastically reduces seed availability,” said the report by Kew Gardens.
Pandanus – Pandanus tectorius
A small-trunked tree known as a screw pine, pandanus is found in coastal areas from Hawaii to the Philippines. Its powerful roots enable it to withstand strong winds, salt spray and drought.
The female plant bears a large fruit similar to a pineapple, which can be consumed raw or cooked, while the leaves can also help flavour dishes.
Morama Bean – Tylosema esculentum
A versatile legume and meat substitute found in arid parts of southern Africa that can tolerate drought. Its seeds can be roasted while the beans are often boiled with maize. The beans are also ground into a powder for porridge or a drink and can yield oil, butter and milk.
Chaya – Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
A fast-growing shrub found in the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico, its highly nutritious leaves – sometimes referred to as tree spinach – are popular in Mexican food and a rich source of protein, vitamins, calcium and iron. Chaya leaves must be simmered in water for 20 minutes because they are toxic when consumed raw.
Fonio – Digitaria exilis
A species of grass that grows in West Africa’s savannahs, it is cultivated as a cereal crop and used to make porridge, drinks and couscous. It is high in iron, calcium and several essential amino acids but requires considerable labour to harvest.
Experts say about 40 per cent of the world’s plant species are at risk of extinction, with deforestation, climate change and the threat of new pathogens largely to blame.
“Never before has the biosphere, the thin layer of life we call home, been under such intensive and urgent threat,” said Professor Alexandre Antonelli, the director of science at Kew Gardens.
“Yet this biodiversity sustains our lives. Open your fridge, peek into your medicine cupboard, examine your living room, feel your clothes. For thousands of years, we have searched nature to satisfy our hunger, cure our diseases, build our houses, and make our lives more comfortable,” he said.
Scientists hope the discovery of new plants and fungi – with nearly 4,000 species being unearthed in 2019 – could help the world face its challenges despite the threat to biodiversity.
“People often think that every species has been located and classified but it’s not the case,” said Dr Martin Cheek, a researcher on the Africa and Madagascar team at Kew. “There are still vast numbers of species on this planet that we know nothing about and don’t even have names for.”
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
World Cup warm up matches
May 24 Pakistan v Afghanistan, Bristol; Sri Lanka v South Africa, Cardiff
May 25 England v Australia, Southampton; India v New Zealand, The Oval
May 26 South Africa v West Indies, Bristol; Pakistan v Bangladesh, Cardiff
May 27 Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton; England v Afghanistan, The Oval
May 28 West Indies v New Zealand, Bristol; Bangladesh v India, Cardiff
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
