Paper short abstract:

Through the combination of biogeographic and social science research methods, diversity hotspots for edible plants in Colombia will be highlighted, and gaps between the potential and the actual use of such diversity will be uncovered at a regional level.

Paper long abstract:

Colombia is the world's second most biodiverse country. It hosts more than 30.000 plant species, as well as an unrivaled number of natural ecosystems. Of these species, at least 7.000 have reported uses for humans, and 3.500 are known as foods. However, due to more than six decades of internal conflict, increasing involvement in the global trade market and diet homogenisation, Colombia is experiencing widespread poverty and food insecurity. Following the growing attention recently given by the scientific community to the economic and nutritional benefits of revitalizing underutilized edible plants within developing countries, the present study explores the link between edible plant richness, distribution and consumption in Colombia. The paper aims to answer three fundamental research questions: what does Colombian edible plant diversity look like? what is the distribution of Colombian edible species diversity across different ecoregions? and what gaps can we identify in the current commercialization and consumption of natural products in Colombia? Through the combination of spatial analysis and social science research methods, this paper maps the distribution of edible plant species over Colombian ecoregions and highlights the extent to which their commercialization and consumption by local human populations depends on it. The results will provide a solid basis for future research on the prioritization of underutilized edible species for revitalization both at the local and national level, stressing the vital importance of such processes for enhancing food security and sustainable development in the country.