Leveraging the potential of indigenous vegetables for food, nutrition, and income security in West Africa

Malnutrition has spawned numerous cases of anemia and triggered the emergence of other diseases in West Africa. To combat this issue, affordable production of nutrient-rich food crops must be ensured. Indigenous vegetables offer a cost-effective and high-quality source of nutrition. Despite their nutritional advantages and economic potential, indigenous vegetables remain underutilized due to limited shelf life, low yields, inadequate seed supplies, and conservation challenges. In this review, we discuss advanced methods and contemporary biotechnology approaches that could enhance the production of five selected commonly consumed indigenous vegetables for food, nutrition, and income security in West Africa.