دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی قارچ ها به عنوان یک استراتژی برای کاهش ناامنی غذا در کلمبیا - امرالد 2017

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to address the issue of food security and its role in the inclusion of edible and medicinal mushrooms in the diets of nutritionally vulnerable populations in Colombia, allowing an overview of the nutritional situation and its main structural causes, the importance of food security programs, the advantages and disadvantages of the use of mushrooms and strategies and challenges in promoting the cultivation and consumption of macromycetes. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive literature review was conducted to develop this viewpoint paper. Findings – According to the results of this study, for edible fungi to become a viable alternative in the Colombian food culture, it is necessary to develop strategies and educational programs for food security, to conduct applied research to assess the incorporation of mushrooms into the food culture of the communities and to consider the acceptability of this food. This requires promoting the properties of mushrooms and considering their nutritional and/or medicinal contributions, self-consumption, commercialization to buy other food and the utilization of by-products or agricultural residues for cultivation, all while paying heed to the implications of food safety and regulations. The contributions of different professionals in social and technical areas in transferring knowledge to the community, and especially to “replicator leaders”, is also of great relevance to the acceptability of these ideas within communities. Social implications – Edible fungi are a possible response to malnutrition problems in adult and infant populations in Colombia. Originality/value – No previous study has investigated the potential of mushrooms as a strategy to decrease food insecurity in Colombia.

Conclusions

The current food problems in Colombia demand joint action involving all stakeholders in food and nutrition security. For this purpose, it is necessary to carry out actions of articulation with local authorities and leaders of communities through a series of strategies that include assessment, planning, training and insertion, especially the recognition of successful organizational processes.

Food insecurity in Colombia will not be overcome only through the promotion of mushrooms, but it is a strategy with immense potential. Fungi are emerging as a low-cost food that is easy to grow and has nutritional and medicinal properties that may help to overcome nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable populations, considering that nutrients such as iron and zinc are main elements of macromycetes.

For edible fungi to become a viable alternative food, it is necessary to develop strategies, food security programs and applied research to evaluate their incorporation into the food culture of communities, considering the acceptability of this food. This requires the promotion of the properties of edible fungi, proceeding from its medicinal and nutritional contributions to its consumption, the marketing of it to fund the purchase of other products and the use of agricultural by-products or waste that could be transformed into food. For that purpose, the contribution of professionals in technical and social areas is required to transfer knowledge to the community, and especially to the community leaders, who have a significant impact on the acceptability of such ideas among the communities.