In the heart of Africa, a starchy powerhouse is making waves, not just in dinner plates but also in industries far and wide. Cassava, a versatile crop with a wide range of applications, has seen a steady rise in global production over the past five years. But this growth comes with a challenge that’s as stubborn as it is swift: post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD). A new review published in *Discover Food* (which translates to *Explore Food* in English) sheds light on this issue, offering insights that could reshape the cassava value chain and bolster global food security.
Kwame Obeng Dankwa, a researcher from the Plant Breeding Program at the Pan African University’s Life and Earth Sciences Institute, led the review. He and his team delved into global cassava production trends, zeroing in on the PPD challenge and strategies to tackle it. “PPD is uniquely rapid in cassava,” Dankwa explains, “and it significantly impacts its marketability and processing quality.” This rapid deterioration sets cassava apart from other root and tuber crops like yam, cocoyam, sweet potato, and potato, making it a unique challenge to address.
The review highlights that Africa is the leading producer of cassava, with three of the top five cassava-producing countries—Nigeria, DR Congo, and Ghana—located on the continent. This underscores the crop’s vital role in African agriculture. However, the leading position is primarily due to the expansion of cultivation areas, a strategy that is not sustainable in the long run.
The economic impact of PPD is substantial. It affects the marketability of cassava roots and their suitability for processing into various products, from food to biofuels. The energy sector, in particular, has a vested interest in cassava. The crop is a potential feedstock for bioethanol production, a renewable energy source that could help reduce dependence on fossil fuels. But PPD stands in the way, causing rapid deterioration and reducing the available feedstock.
Current efforts to mitigate PPD include developing PPD-tolerant cassava varieties. This approach could significantly transform the cassava value chain, enhancing its commercial viability and contributing to global food security. Dankwa emphasizes the need for a uniform PPD phenotyping approach for better assessment and diagnosis. “A uniform approach would allow for more accurate evaluation of PPD tolerance in different cassava varieties,” he says, “enabling breeders to develop more resilient varieties.”
The review also discusses the importance of addressing PPD in unlocking the potential of cassava as a key driver of sustainable development. By tackling this challenge, we can enhance the crop’s marketability, improve processing quality, and boost its potential as a feedstock for bioethanol production. This, in turn, could contribute to energy security and sustainable development.
As we look to the future, the insights from this review could shape developments in cassava breeding and processing. By focusing on PPD tolerance and uniform phenotyping, we can pave the way for a more resilient cassava value chain. This could not only bolster food security but also open up new opportunities in the energy sector, driving sustainable development and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The journey is just beginning, but the potential is immense.