Jul 18, 2025
New volume in the Riquezas Naturais de Uíge book series: Focus on local food plants and their nutritional values
The long-standing collaboration between TU Dresden and the Universidade Kimpa Vita in Uíge, Angola, is once again bearing fruit: the fourth volume of the book series Riquezas Naturais de Uíge (Natural Wealth of Uíge) entitled "Plantas comestíveis e os seus valores nutricionais" (Edible Plants and their Nutritional Values) was recently published. Like the previous volumes, the book is published in Portuguese and is thus aimed in a targeted manner at the local population in order to make scientifically sound knowledge directly accessible on site.
The cooperation, which has existed since 2001, is concerned with broad-based biodiversity research in the Uíge region - with a particular focus on the study of native plant species.
The new volume focuses on the results of Christin Baumgärtel's doctoral thesis, which dealt with traditional food plants in the region. The aim of her work was to make a contribution to combating malnutrition by systematically investigating and documenting local edible plants and their ingredients.
Introductory chapters first provide insights into fundamental topics such as the role of nutrients for human health, methods for preserving food and the principles of sustainable agriculture. Building on this, the book presents brief portraits of a large number of edible plant species. Possible uses, important ingredients and possible forms of preservation are described for each species. The result is a comprehensive picture of how local plant diversity can contribute to food security and the protection of natural resources.
With this volume, the project aims not only to contribute to scientific documentation, but also to promote understanding of sustainable agriculture and the protection of biodiversity in Angola. At the same time, the knowledge gained from the research is to be passed on in an understandable form to the people whose living environment it affects. A summary of all the work published to date by the Angola project can be found on the following website. Project leader Dr. Thea Lautenschläger has continued the cooperation as director of the Botanical Garden in Hamburg since 2024.
We would like to thank all those involved and those who have supported and made this valuable work possible over many years.
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