Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) of Crops: A Solution for Future Nutritional Challenges?

This article addresses the current state of global food insecurity and the rising burden of chronic diseases-both of which are nutrition-related crises-highlighting the urgent need to diversify the global dietary matrix. Currently, a mere four crops supply 60% of human energy intake, while macroeconomic barriers prevent over a third of the global population from affording a healthy diet. In this context, neglected and underutilized species (NUS) emerge as a highly sustainable and resilient alternative, given that certain species possess exceptional nutritional profiles and high adaptability to adverse climatic conditions. Consequently, future lines of research are proposed to integrate these crops into the population daily lives, aiming to explore their capacity to combat global food challenges and evaluate their medicinal properties. Ultimately, this approach seeks to promote the collective utilization of NUS within public health frameworks to improve population well-being at community, regional, and global levels.