S09 - Session O4 - Potential hydroponic cultivation of Tetragonia decumbens Mill. as a new urban food crop: A review

Authors: Charles Laubscher *, Milile Nkcukankcuka , Carolyn Wilmot

There is an ever-increasing global cognizance of food nutrition and security and a need for cultivating sustainable plant crops especially with recent trends of declining freshwater resources and increasing drought stress. Tetragonia decumbens Mill. (dune spinach) is a low-growing, sprawling perennial native to the coastal sand dunes from southern Namibia to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is well adapted to grow in nutrient poor sandy soils with low water requirements and coastal sea spray. Historical records reveal that it was utilized as an edible food source by local people. There is a re-kindled interest among user groups of chefs, food innovators, gardens, community farmers, and local knowledge holders to reintroduce wild food plants as a viable and accessible food source. This review aims to explore the species interest as an under-utilized wild leafy green vegetable and foster the need to develop cultivation protocols with emphasis in hydroponics. Furthermore, it will inherently contribute to the future commercial, environmental and social potential as an edible food crop in urban, peri-urban and rural community settings.