Rediscovering Forgotten Nutritious Forest Fruits

Overview

This project works with the Batwa of southwestern Uganda and the Benet of Mount Elgon to document, taste-test and revive nutritious wild forest fruits that have quietly disappeared from local diets. It combines participatory ethnobotany, nutrition science and community storytelling.

Objectives

• Document indigenous knowledge of nutritious forest fruits with the Batwa and Benet.
• Analyse the nutritional value of prioritised species.
• Support community-led propagation and use of these fruits.
• Advocate for the inclusion of indigenous foods in local nutrition policy.

Activities

• Elder-led knowledge walks and species identification.
• Community nutrition dialogues, especially with women and youth.
• Sampling and laboratory analysis of prioritised fruits.
• Development of illustrated, community-owned knowledge products.

Expected outcomes

• A curated inventory of underutilised nutritious forest fruits.
• Restored intergenerational transmission of indigenous food knowledge.
• Community champions equipped to promote local nutrition.