Improving Agricultural Productivity through Increased Local Biodiversity Exploitation and Food Composition Database Management

It has become evidently clear to the global community that even in countries boasting adequate food and nutrition security there is rural hunger. Smallholder farming families who represent one-third of the global population have a crucial role to play in the utilization of all available local bio-resources to boost food production and increase livelihoods and consumer choices. If local biodiversity and traditional bio-resources are adequately tapped and effectively utilized, there will be, as a consequence, great improvements in agricultural productivity. Farmers are usually more motivated when they know that the agricultural produce from their farms would be in demand. Compiling/collating data on the nutrients and bioactive compounds composition of the diverse local biodiversity is expected to ginger greater productivity, especially if the components are necessary for enhanced nutrition and health. In this paper the potentials of local biodiversity are highlighted and the avenues for their wider exploitation and commercialization are discussed with a view to improving food security. The findings here have greatly underscored the need for effective collaboration between all stakeholders and increased advocacy and enlightenment of local farmers to the rich natural endowments of their immediate ecosystems.