Résumé
Triple burden of malnutrition remains a problem in East Africa, particularly among rural communities in arid and semi-arid areas. The problem is largely due to poor quality diets, characterized by low diversity and variety. Under limited resources, households focus in alleviating hunger without paying attention to dietary diversity. As a result, fruit and vegetable consumption in Ethiopia and Kenya are below the recommended intakes. Remarkably, both countries have a wide variety of traditional fruits and vegetables (TFV), which are sources of vitamins and minerals needed for their health impact. Besides challenges in availability, accessibility, or affordability, consumers do not consider the nutritional and health benefits of TFV. In an effort to exploit the rich biodiversity of TFV and alleviate malnutrition in the region, our study explored existing knowledge about TFV in Ethiopia and Kenya. Based on scientific and indigenous knowledge from local experts, the top 5 species ranked in order of potential (from highest to lowest) were Tamarindus indica L., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf, Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst., and Adansonia digitata L. Our study continues to evaluate the current status of these species in terms of suitability and ease of establishment, in order to promote their integration into local food systems. For traditional leafy vegetables, available information is limited and of poor quality. Field surveys with local farmers and rural households are therefore needed to identify key factors for the selection of priority species. Moreover, there is need of chemical and nutritional analysis of TFV, to support education and preferences and enrich the food repertoires of consumers. The final selected TFV species will be the focus for future research plans, integrating complementary various programs carried out by oneCGIAR in order to transform African food systems for better nutrition, health and economic, social, and environmental goals.