ABSTRACT
Agricultural value chains are important in providing human food and nutrition security. With the global food demand on the increase in recent years, nutrition security of both adults and children has become an important nexus involving agriculture and health. Pseudocereals, also known as pseudograins, have received considerable attention owing to the high nutritional composition of products and superior quality of nutrients and minerals. Key among the attributes of pseudocereals are the provision of proteins, micronutrients, phytonutrients, carbohydrates, fiber, healthy lipids, and contribution to low glycemic needs of the human diets. However, with the increasing demand for pseudocereals, more work is required in breeding, sustainable agronomic practices, and value chain development in many locations across the globe. Smallholder practices for production of these crops need to be fine-tuned to tackle impending threats from climate change, soil degradation and biotic stresses. Opportunities of using the Internet of Things (IoT) to increase value chain efficiencies need to be explored. This Chapter analyses nutritional contribution, crop management practices, value chain development and the use of IoT in pseudocereals crops. The agriculture-health nexus is discussed given the importance of pseudocereals’ contributions to nutrition and human wellbeing now and in the future. To score global success on the overarching goals of food and nutrition security, the complementarity between cereals and pseudocereals need to be promoted.
