Bamboo for Food and Nutritional Security

Bamboo, a perennial woody grass, has long been valued for its strength, versatility, and rapid renewability. In regions such as North Eastern India, bamboo shoots represent a vital food resource, deeply embedded in the culinary traditions of tribal and rural communities. Consumed in various forms - fresh, fermented, canned, and dried - bamboo not only provides nutritional benefits but also carries cultural significance. With ongoing global climate change impacting agricultural productivity and the accessibility of reliable food sources, the role of resilient, locally available foods such as bamboo becomes increasingly important. Existing research highlights bamboo's potential in contributing to food systems that are both sustainable and adaptive, yet significant gaps remain in understanding its full capacity for supporting communities during environmental stress and food insecurity. The primary goal of this Research Topic is to investigate the multifaceted role of bamboo in ensuring food and nutritional security for vulnerable populations, particularly within contexts challenged by climate change and resource scarcity. This collection aims to address key questions surrounding the nutritional value of various bamboo parts, traditional processing techniques, and the socio-economic mechanisms behind bamboo-based food systems. Furthermore, it seeks to explore the ways in which traditional knowledge can be documented, preserved, and integrated with modern food security strategies, ensuring the continued relevance of bamboo in both local and broader contexts. This Research Topic focuses on the food and nutritional aspects of bamboo utilization. To gather further insights in these areas, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: - Nutritional composition and health benefits of bamboo shoots and other edible parts - Traditional processing, preservation, and consumption methods of bamboo-based foods - Bamboo's role in enhancing food security under climate change and environmental stress - Socio-economic impacts of bamboo utilization among indigenous and rural communities - Integration of traditional bamboo food practices into sustainable nutrition policies - Conservation and propagation of edible bamboo species for food purposes. Topic editors: Poonam Singhal, Lalit M. Bal Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/73412/bamboo-for-food-and-nutritional-security