Underutilized fruit crops in North-Western Himalayan region under changing climatic scenario

Abstract

The global food system is a key contributor to climate change and causes widespread environmental damage. Its lack of diversity and inability to produce sufficient fruits and vegetables are leading to a worldwide health catastrophe. The unexpected variety of underutilized species is progressively renowned to be dynamic to environmental health and particularly significant for supportive climate change mitigation. Underutilized fruits can provide a variety of meals sustainably, as well as provide livelihood advantages and a couple of provided by the fruits. The agro-biodiversity hotspot in India's North-Western Himalayan area is recognized for its vast diversity of lesser-known, underused, and ethno-medicinal significant fruit crops. First, based on the available literature review, we give an overview of these environmental, nutritional, and livelihood advantages, demonstrating that underutilized fruits significantly contribute to essential fruit intake in rural communities. Then we covered some prevalent risk factors in different agro-climatic zones due to climate change and reviewed potential underutilized fruits. We examine different interventions addressing technological and consumer behaviour constraints with the potential to boost the consumption and production of edible underutilized fruit crops. This review aims to detail the underutilized fruit found in the North-Western Himalayan region and all aspects related to nutritional importance, Ethno-botanical and traditional uses, and phytological and toxicological studies of these crops.