Scientists say the plant enset, an Ethiopian staple, could be a new superfood and a lifesaver in the face of climate change.
According to a new study, the banana-like crop will be able to feed more than 100 million people in a warming world. The plant is almost unknown outside of Ethiopia, where it is used to make porridge and bread. Research also suggests that the crop can be grown on a larger scale in Africa. Dr Wendawek Abebe of Hawassa University in Awasa, Ethiopia stated, “This is a crop that can play a really important role in addressing food security and sustainable development.”
Enset or “false banana” is a close relative of the banana but is consumed only in one part of Ethiopia. The banana-like fruit is inedible but the starchy stems and roots can be fermented and used to make porridge and bread. Enset is a stable in Ethiopia where around 20 million people rely on it for food but elsewhere it has not been cultivated, although wild relatives grow as far as South Africa thereby suggesting that the plant can tolerate a much wider range.
