Real hope for Ethiopia's false banana

Hopes real for false banana - 14th Feb 2022

Scientists have found a new superfood which could be used to fight the effects of climate change. 'Enset' is a close relative of the banana and forms part of the normal diet of around 20 million Ethiopians.

It’s sometimes given the name 'false banana', since its fruit isn’t edible. The enset’s stems and the roots are easily turned into porridge and bread. However, the crop is little known outside Ethiopia.

Now, scientists believe enset could play a major role in food security. Research has suggested that it grows well in a variety of conditions, so it could be introduced elsewhere, such as in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

One detailed research study has calculated that enset could feed up to 100 million people. The crop’s particularly significant as it can be planted and harvested throughout the year. It doesn't require replanting either.

Our staple crops of rice, wheat and maize are currently threatened by climate change. Scientists know that our survival depends on growing a greater variety of plants. As a result, there’s increasing scientific interest in alternative foods.

In the future, enset, known locally as ‘the tree against hunger’, might live up to its name and save millions of lives.