Underutilized and Neglected Indigenous Foods for Health and Sustainability

Preface

Acknowledgement

About the Editors

List of Contributors

Chapter 1 Rediscovering Forgotten Foods: The Role of Indigenous Crops in Global Nutrition

Sarayu Digala, Hamsini Kaveti, Sahithi Anupuram, Jahanavi Madasu, Rishivika Shruthi Vankadara, Alisha Chunduri, B. Sumithra, Sanjeeb Kumar Mandal

Chapter 2 From Forest to Fork: Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Food Systems

Abishek Dinesh, Sonia Morya, Farhang Hameed Awlqadr, Mohammed Kara, Devendra Kumar

Chapter 3 Nutritional Powerhouses: Health benefits of underutilized Foods

Jayanti Mukherjee, Deepa Goswami, Biswanath Bhunia, and Pinku Chandra Nath

Chapter 4 Flaxseeds as an Underutilized Nutritional Resource: Health Benefits and Functional Components

Khushi Sikka, Vedika Kohli, Khushi Tyagi, Meena Kumari

Chapter 5 Indian Plum (Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch.): An Underutilized Climate-Resilient Superfruit for Nutritional Security and Sustainable Development

Nazir Ahmad Bhat, Rubina Khatun and Sarangthem Nolini Chanu

Chapter 6 Climate-Resilient and Resource-Efficient: Sustainability of Indigenous Crops

 Priyvart Choudhary, Vinay Kumar Pandey, Amritanshu Pathak, Ayaz Mukarram Shaikh, Mahima Chaudhary

Chapter 7 Reclaiming Indigenous Food: Climate Resilient and Resource Efficient Solutions from the Central India Tribal Region

Vaibhav Ganesh Sonone and Megha Bhatt

Chapter 8 Indigenous Food Systems and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Pathways to Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Nutrition

Mullapudi Sanjana, Bareddy Sandhya Reddy, Vedika Choubey, Debajani Das, Deepanka Saikia

Chapter 9 Geographical Influence on Honey Flavor: How Climate and Region Shape the Taste of Monofloral Honey

Kapayeni Basena, Vivono Rhetso, Seydur Rahman, Mohd Shadab, Mehak Manzoor, Mohammad Zaki Shamim

Chapter 10 Popular Varieties of Monofloral Honey for Indigenous Nutrition

Vivono Rhetso, Seydur Rahman, Mohd Shadab, Anowar Hussain, Kapayeni Basena, Mehak Manzoor, Mohammad Zaki Shamim

Chapter 11 Microbial Nutraceuticals as Functional Foods: Indigenous knowledge integrating with modern science

Laikhuram Sarda Devi, Latharani R, Sangeetha V.J.  and Ashoka S.

Chapter 12 Indigenous Leafy Greens: Nutraceutical and Medicinal Potential in Regional Diets of North-East India

Manas Jyoti Kapil, Hulang Magdalene Anal, Cherylene Sohtun, Vedant Vikrom Borah

Chapter 13 Linking Indigenous Foods with Sustainable Diets and the SDGs

Amiya Ojha, Megha Mete, Tarun Kanti Bandyopadhyay, Abhishek Kumar, and Pinku Chandra Nath

Chapter 14 Reviving Indigenous foods: The Role of Consumer Awareness and Behavioural Change in Sustainable Food Practices

Subhashini R., Ramathilaga A., Varun M., Keith Benjamin J., and Abhinand P.P.  

Index

Biography

Dr. Yugal Kishore Mohanta is currently serving as Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Biology at University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), India. With a M.Sc., Ph.D. and post-doctoral training, his specialisations lie in nanobiotechnology, microbiology, and sustainable-development oriented research. Dr. Mohanta leads the “NanoBioTraK_Lab”, supported by a DST-ANRF grant (2022–2024), Govt. of India and Research Networking Project-2024 sponsored by XJENZA MALTA, Govt. of Malta, where his team works on developing bio-functional nanomaterials including nano-antimicrobials and nano-nutraceuticals from natural bioresources for applications in food, agriculture, medicine, and environmental sustainability. A prolific researcher, he has authored over 130+ peer-reviewed articles in SCIE-indexed journals, 44+ book chapters, filed 4 Indian patents, edited 10+ books published by reputed publishing houses such as CRC Press, Elsevier and Springer Nature, and contributed multiple book chapters. His work has earned significant recognition in 2025 that he was ranked among the “Top 2% Scientists in the World” by Stanford University (USA), underscoring his global impact in the field of strategic nanobiotechnology. Beyond lab-based research, Dr. Mohanta embraces translational science, where translating lab discoveries into real-world solutions for sustainable development. Dr. Mohanta stands out as a researcher-educator bridging nanotechnology, microbiology and sustainability, making significant contributions at both national and global levels.

Dr. Bishwambhar Mishra brings over a decade of experience in teaching and research and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology in Hyderabad, India. His primary research areas include industrial microbiology and nanobiotechnology, with a focus on their applications. His work is aimed at harnessing the potential of microorganisms to address pressing global challenges such as environmental sustainability, food security, and resource management. Dr. Mishra has made significant contributions to the scientific community, authoring 92 research publications in high-impact, SCIE-indexed journals, with his work garnering more than 2,300+ citations with h-index of 25, and an i10-index of 52. These publications reflect the high calibre of his research, spanning various interdisciplinary domains. In addition to his extensive publication record, he has authored 3 books that further advance knowledge in the field. Dr. Mishra has served as a reviewer for over 100 prestigious international journals, including those published by renowned publishers such as RSC, ACS, Taylor & Francis, Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, Frontiers, and MDPI. His expertise is further recognized through his role as Topical Editor and Editorial board member of SCIE-indexed journals, where he plays a critical role in shaping scientific discourse and guiding future research.

Mr. Jibanjyoti Panda is currently working as a pre-doctoral scientist at the Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada, Mayurbhanj 757003, Odisha, India. With his MS & M.Phil. training, he possesses more than 10 years of research experience in the domains of microbiology, biotechnology, natural products, fermented food, waste valorization, mushroom biology, and SDGs. Furthermore, Mr. Panda has extensive experience in mushroom technology, encompassing field surveys, collection, isolation, spawning, cultivation, mushroom bioactive, and nutraceuticals. He has also worked on numerous research projects funded by both the Government of Odisha and the Government of India, including those from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). He has effectively published more than 60 scientific publications (SCIE) garnering 1000+ citations and h-index 17 and one edited book in CRC Press.

Dr. Pinku Chandra Nath presently, working as an Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, Techno India University, Tripura, India. He has more than 8 years research experience in the area of waste bioremediation, food fortification, environmental biotechnology, algal technology, food safety, food microbiology and food chemistry. He has published 45 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, 4 Indian patents, 2 edited books, and 35 book chapters with an h-index of 21, i10-index of 30, google scholar citations 1941, and cumulative impact factor more than 180, first/corresponding author (>80%). Additionally, he has served as a reviewer for over 30 international peer-reviewed journals from Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, Frontiers, and MDPI.

Dr. Satya Kumar Avula is currently a Senior Scientist in Organic Chemistry at the Natural & Medical Sciences Research Centre (NMSRC), University of Nizwa, Oman. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher (2012–2013) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa. His research focuses on chemical transformations and the total stereoselective synthesis of natural products. Dr. Avula is an active member of both the American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has an extensive publication record, having authored and co-authored over 95 scientific articles, reviews, and patents in peer-reviewed international journals, along with two books and several patents. In addition to his research, Dr. Avula supervises Master’s, Ph.D., and postdoctoral researchers in the fields of organic, bio-organic, and medicinal chemistry