Skip to main content
View Cart

Agroecology of Edible Weeds and Non-Crop Plants

Ecology and Socioeconomic Potential of the Associated Plant Biodiversity

  • 1st Edition - September 19, 2024
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Roland Ebel, Fabian Menalled
  • Language: English

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

Early spring sale

Nurture your knowledge

Grow your expertise with up to 25% off trusted resources.

Shop now

Description

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-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.

Key features

  • 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

Readership

Agricultural professionals and educators, researchers, Extension specialists, undergraduate and graduate students, diversified farmers and ranchers, as well as members of government agencies and non-profit organizations interested in learning more about the agroecological requirements and benefits of the underutilized associated plant biodiversity in a range of agricultural systems and geographic regions and putting that knowledge into practice. As a recommended reading for university courses on agroecology, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, food systems, food equity, and food sovereignty will benefit from this book. Also, this book will be used in workshops and outreach activities on agroecology, sustainable food systems, and local food production organized by government agencies, extension services, and NGOs

Table of contents

1 Ecological principles in the study of edible weeds

2 Are we fighting our coevolutionary partners?

3 Developing ecological and socioeconomic criteria to diversify weed use for food

4 Impacts of edible weeds on other components of the associated biodiversity

5 Edible weeds as crops

6 Edible weeds as a component of a resilient food system

7 Weeds as a social construct

8 The economy of edible weeds: evidence and conceptual framework

9 Teaching edible weeds in higher education: examples from Montana State University’s sustainable food systems program

10 Edible exotic weeds for food security and food sovereignty in NW Patagonia

11 “Quelites”: the culture of edible weeds in Mexico

12 Descurainia sophia (flixweed): a weed with many uses and ecological roles

13 Itajetik: Agroecology and food culture of edible noncrop plants of the Tseltal Maya in northern Chiapas

14 Food beyond the farm: significance of noncrop plants and mushrooms for food security of highland farming communities in Veracruz, Mexico

15 Agroecology of edible weeds in India

16 Epilogue: Harnessing the diversity of our fields. Lessons that edible weeds can teach us

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: September 24, 2024
  • Language: English

About the editors

RE

Roland Ebel

Roland Ebel has a Ph.D. in Organic Farming, from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna His MS in horticulture about the globe artichoke was conducted at the Technical University Munich. Dr. Ebel contributed to the construction of the Intercultural Maya University of Quintana Roo with an emphasis on traditional Mesoamerican farming and participatory research, including “quelites”, associated edible and underutilized plants in traditional agroecosystems. He has worked at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico and taught an online Agroecology course for the University of Massachusetts. He served as a Post-Doc at Montana State University (MSU), developing an adaptable Sustainable Food Systems curriculum, and was appointed Assistant Research Professor there teaching an Ethnobotany undergraduate course, among others. His research focuses on biofertilizers made of food residues, local food systems and their responses to shocks, as well as underutilized plants.
Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Research Professor, Sustainable Food Systems Program ,Dept. of Health and Human Development ,Montana State University, USA

FM

Fabian Menalled

Dr. Menalled is a Professor in Weed Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture at Montana State University (MUS). He received a BS in Biology at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, while conducting agroforestry research at the Biological Station La Selva, Costa Rica. His research and education program at MSU focuses on understanding the ecological underpinnings of sustainable cropping systems. This program embraces a multi-disciplinary approach to address both basic and applied problems facing the agricultural communities. Core areas of research include 1) Patterns and functional importance of the associated biodiversity in conventional and alternative cropping systems, 2) Assessment of multi-trophic pest management interactions in agroecosystems, and 3) Development of integrated weed management practices. As main author or co-author, Dr. Menalled published 114 peer-revied articles, 15 book chapters, two books, and more than 160 technical bulletins and popular press articles.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor of Weed Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, USA

View book on ScienceDirect

Read Agroecology of Edible Weeds and Non-Crop Plants on ScienceDirect