South African Perspective on Opuntia spp.: Cultivation, Human and Livestock Food and Industrial Applications

The effect of scarce water resources, increasing desertification and climate change on food security prompted the exploration of the highly water-efficient, drought-tolerant cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia robusta) as a commercial crop for the food and other industries in South Africa. Cactus pear, formerly called the prickly pear, has long been valued in South Africa as cattle feed and for its delicious, healthy fruit. In 1914, 22 spineless Burbank Opuntia ficus-indica and O. robusta cactus pear cultivars were imported from the USA, and South Africa is the only country in the world where this collection is still found. Both O. ficus-indica and O. robusta are undervalued food sources, with the entire plant having value as a health-promoting crop with nutraceutical properties. Through research, the cactus pear can open up economic opportunities in South Africa. Research on cactus pears at the University of the Free State (UFS) is in collaboration with the South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC). The Waterkloof germplasm collection is located in the Bloemfontein district in the Free State, South Africa. A second germplasm was established on the west campus of the UFS in 2018 and a third site at Roodeplaat in Pretoria. All sites hosts 44 spineless Burbank cultivars, 42 of the O. ficus-indica spp. and two from the O. robusta spp. Research on human food application aspects as well as newly developed industries of this multi-functional crop is reported.