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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Domestication and development of baobab and tamarind

Objective

Tamarindus indica often occurs wild in the tropics. Unimproved trees are often commercially exploited, but are considered as under-utilised crop. There is a lack of a national research agenda; global interest and research impact are insignificant. Tamarind is used for timber, tool handles, charcoal and fuel wood. Its leaves are a source of food and medicine; fruit pulp is the richest known natural source of tartaric acid and is used for flavouring chutneys, sauces and juices. Seed kernel powder, the major industrial product, is an important material used in sizing of textiles and paper. Adansonia digitata is a multipurpose, widely used African tree with similar research constraints/potentials as tamarind. Baobab occurs scattered in savannahs, often near dwellings. It has numerous medicinal properties and (non-) food uses. Young leaves, rich in minerals/vitamins, are cooked as spinach and sauces. High vitamin C fruit pulp, dissolved in water or milk is drunk, used as sauce, fermenting agent, etc. Seed kernels are eaten fresh, dry or ground and used in cooking, as thickening/flavouring agent, or roasted. Seeds are also a source of cooking oil. Bark fibre is used for rope, basket nets, fishing lines and weaving. Both species have high potential for (semi-) arid areas.

However, improved disease-free cultivars are not available; rapid and easy methods of germplasm production/multiplication are not developed; and distribution pathways are mostly non-existent. Integration into agroforestry systems could stabilise them, but trees with desired growth habit have yet to be developed. There is also a need to collect/conserve/utilise germplasm for tree improvement. Market chains and infrastructure are poorly developed. The project addresses issues of new crop/niche development through a holistic research approach and envisages multidisciplinary activities to broaden availability of improved plant material for introduction into agroforestry systems.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

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FP6-2004-INCO-DEV-3
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Funding Scheme

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STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF GHENT / UNIVERSITEIT GENT
EU contribution
No data
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (6)

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