Page 9 - Baking Europe Journal - Winter 2022

INGREDIENTS
ENSET FRUIT 9

Given the security of most large-scale “Enset has a proven track record
supply lines is currently dominating
the headlines, enset has a proven of alleviating food shortages in
track record of alleviating food
shortages in challenging times. Those challenging times.”
who remember the devastating
famine in Africa during the 1980s
might not be aware that, at a time Aside of the general challenges faced research could give a true indication,
when climatic conditions were at their in cultivating all crops, greater though I suspect given how people
worst, enset growing communities challenges include shifting around the globe are continually
reported little to no diff erence in food environmental conditions and the adapting to an increasingly adverse
security. declining diversity of landraces and environment, now might be a good
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3
perhaps unsurprisingly, climate time for bakers to create some
Yet, despite its resilience, the so change is projected to substantially innovative new products – assuming
called ‘Tree Against Hunger’ is not impact all agricultural systems in East enset were widely available.
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immune to the threats faced by all Africa. Crop yields will either reduce
crops. Diseases such as Xanthomonas or become more variable, resulting in At a time when European
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(XWE) and Cephalosporium reduce the need for new adaptations and governments are actively looking to
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crop yield and Sclerotium reduces new areas to grow in. 8 secure their supply of various
plant growth. XWE is mainly spread resources, this little-known crop has
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through cultivation tools and Regardless of these potential barriers the potential to off er dishes that do
contaminated planting materials, to cultivating enset on a large scale, not rely on rice, wheat or maize, as a
though it can also be transmitted by some obvious challenges remain. As main ingredient.
porcupines, mole rats and warthogs. 1 well as caring for the tree, would the
Cephalosporium and Sclerotium are dishes described above be accepted Speaking to the BBC in January this
minor diseases caused by bacterial, by the tastes of consumers across year, Dr Borrell, an expert and
fungal and viral pathogens. 1 Europe and beyond? Only consumer advocate of enset said, “We need to

BAKINGEUROPE Winter 2022/2023
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