
Agroecology of Edible Weeds and Non-Crop Plants
Ecology and Socioeconomic Potential of the Associated Plant Biodiversity
- 1st Edition - September 19, 2024
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Editors: Roland Ebel, Fabian Menalled
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 0 7 6 - 9
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 6 0 7 7 - 6
Agroecology of Edible Weeds and Non-Crops: Ecology and Socio-Economic Potential of Plant Biodiversity is the first book to move beyond the ethnobotanical aspect of under-uti… Read more

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Request a sales quoteAgroecology of Edible Weeds and Non-Crops: Ecology and Socio-Economic Potential of Plant Biodiversity is the first book to move beyond the ethnobotanical aspect of under-utilized non crops to explore how to optimize their potential. With case studies of edible weeds and non-crop plants from around the world, including Europe and North America, in urban as well as rural settings, the book highlights the global opportunities provided by these plants. The book includes much needed information for identifying, maintaining, and benefitting from these plant species. It is ideal for agricultural professionals, educators, researchers, and students.
Those interested in increasing the diversity of the farming landscape and food systems by means of edible non-crop plants have access to a plethora of information on the ethnobotany of these species. Yet little to no information exists on the agroecological requirements and potential benefits of underutilized edible non-crop plants in the context of sustainable farming systems. This book fills that knowledge gap from identifying edible weeds and non-crop plants, to exploring the ways these plants can be used to economically improve nutrition.
- Evaluates ecological processes underpinning the abundance and diversity of edible non-crop plants
- Assesses ecological benefits of these species within agroecosystems
- Identifies socioeconomic barriers and incentives in exploiting consumable agricultural biodiversity
- Highlights real-world insights through case studies
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- List of contributors
- About the authors
- Foreword by Miguel Altieri
- Introduction: Edible weeds. A need for an agroecological perspective
- 1 Why this book? Edible weeds in the context of sustainable and resilient food systems
- 2 Edible weeds, an untapped agroecological theme
- 3 Agroecology of edible weeds. Book audience and organization
- 4 But, what exactly are edible weeds? Why should agroecologists study them?
- Section 1: Agroecology of edible weeds
- Chapter 1. Ecological principles in the study of edible weeds
- Abstract
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Assembly of weed communities
- 1.3 Adaptive capacity of edible weeds
- 1.4 Conclusions and areas for future research
- References
- Chapter 2. Are we fighting our coevolutionary partners?
- Abstract
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Weeds are more likely to be edible than other noncrop plants
- 2.3 Edible weeds are more aggressive and widespread than nonedible ones
- 2.4 Humans are a main force favoring the evolution and distribution of weeds
- 2.5 Are we fighting our evolutionary partners?
- References
- Chapter 3. Developing ecological and socioeconomic criteria to diversify weed use for food
- Abstract
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Ecological criteria to diversify weed use for food
- 3.3 Socioeconomic criteria to diversify weed use for food
- 3.4 Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 4. Impacts of edible weeds on other components of the associated biodiversity
- Abstract
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Ecological importance of weed communities: services and functions provided by the associated biodiversity
- 4.3 Beyond weeds: edible noncrop plants in dryland cropping systems
- 4.4 Conclusions and areas of future research
- References
- Section 2: Economic and social implications of edible weeds
- Chapter 5. Edible weeds as crops
- Abstract
- 5.1 Introduction. How did we get here?
- 5.2 Crop domestication, ecology, coevolution, and edible noncrop plants
- 5.3 Weeds or edible noncrop plants? An example from organic horticultural systems
- 5.4 Selective harvest of edible weeds
- 5.5 Back to the future. Rediscovering el buen y el mal monte
- References
- Chapter 6. Edible weeds as a component of a resilient food system
- Abstract
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 Definitions
- 6.3 Food system diversification and resilience
- 6.4 Increasing food system resilience through edible weeds
- 6.5 Outlook
- References
- Chapter 7. Weeds as a social construct
- Abstract
- 7.1 Introduction
- 7.2 What is a weed?
- 7.3 Edible weeds as social constructs
- 7.4 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 8. The economy of edible weeds: evidence and conceptual framework
- Abstract
- 8.1 Introduction to the economy of edible weeds
- 8.2 Aiming at a dynamic perspective on the economic importance of edible weeds
- 8.3 Are edible weeds economically important?
- 8.4 For whom are edible weeds economically important?
- 8.5 How is the economic importance of edible weeds measured?
- 8.6 A social-ecological framework for assessing the economic importance of edible weeds
- 8.7 Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 9. Teaching edible weeds in higher education: examples from Montana State University’s sustainable food systems program
- Abstract
- 9.1 Introduction
- 9.2 System thinking
- 9.3 Experimental learning
- 9.4 Interdisciplinary learning in sustainable food systems education
- 9.5 Collective action
- 9.6 Conclusions
- References
- Section 3: Case studies: agroecology of edible weeds in industrialized and developing regions
- Chapter 10. Edible exotic weeds for food security and food sovereignty in NW Patagonia
- Abstract
- 10.1 Introduction
- 10.2 Aims
- 10.3 Indigenous peoples and local communities from NW Patagonia
- 10.4 Methods
- 10.5 Exotic edible weeds as a resilience booster of sustainable and sovereign food systems
- 10.6 Conclusions
- Acknowledgments
- References
- Chapter 11. “Quelites”: the culture of edible weeds in Mexico
- Abstract
- 11.1 Introduction and definition
- 11.2 Quelite species
- 11.3 Quelites in Mexican agroecosystems
- 11.4 Past and present food uses
- 11.5 Outlook
- References
- Chapter 12. Descurainia sophia (flixweed): a weed with many uses and ecological roles
- Abstract
- 12.1 Introduction
- 12.2 Botanical characteristics, establishment, and growth
- 12.3 Societal importance
- 12.4 Impacts on agriculture
- 12.5 Areas for future research
- 12.6 Recommendations and conclusions
- References
- Chapter 13. Itajetik: Agroecology and food culture of edible noncrop plants of the Tseltal Maya in northern Chiapas
- Abstract
- 13.1 Introduction
- 13.2 Itajetik: edible weeds in a socio-ecological context
- 13.3 Management of edible noncrop species
- 13.4 Itajetik processing and consumption
- 13.5 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 14. Food beyond the farm: significance of noncrop plants and mushrooms for food security of highland farming communities in Veracruz, Mexico
- Abstract
- 14.1 Introduction
- 14.2 Methodology
- 14.3 Results and discussion
- 14.4 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 15. Agroecology of edible weeds in India
- Abstract
- 15.1 Introduction
- 15.2 Indian cropping systems and the ecological role of edible weeds
- 15.3 Weeds in diverse contexts: case studies of edible weeds and their cultural significance
- 15.4 Future research and recommendations
- References
- Section 4: Epilogue
- Chapter 16. Epilogue: Harnessing the diversity of our fields. Lessons that edible weeds can teach us
- References
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: September 19, 2024
- Imprint: Academic Press
- No. of pages: 340
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443160769
- eBook ISBN: 9780443160776
RE
Roland Ebel
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