Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais, PANC, Reconhecidas e Utilizadas Pelas Famílias de Estudantes da Escola Família Agrícola da Região Sul, EFASUL

Abstract

Currently the food diversity on the planet is restricted to a few plants, 50% of the calories eaten daily come from only four species. It is estimated that 30 thousand species can be used in food and that much of this information is being lost among the traditional communities who have this knowledge. In Rio Grande do Sul alone, studies indicate a knowledge of more than 300 species used in food. This work aimed to contribute to the registration and knowledge about non-conventional food plants (PANC) that are recognized and used by male and female farmers farmers linked to the Escola Família Agrícola da Região Sul - EFASUL. For this, interviews were conducted between January and April 2019, with the participation of 21 families of students, seeking to know the PANC that are recognized and used, as well as the forms and frequency of uses. The samples of the mentioned plants were collected for taxonomic determination and filing in the ECT herbarium of Embrapa Clima Temperado. In addition, some with greater availability and absence or reduced number of researches had the edible parts collected for analysis of bioactive compounds. The interviewed families cited 29 to 60 species, totaling 129 species belonging to 55 botanical families. Myrtaceae was the most cited followed by Asteraceae. The species most frequently mentioned in descending order were Ananas bracteatus, Butia odorata, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Psidium cattleianum and Eugenia uniflora. The main form of consumption is fresh, followed by salads and juices, however some processed forms of schmier, juices and jams are consumed frequently. Fruits are the most used part, followed by leaves and flowers. Regarding bioactive compounds, total carotenoids and total phenolic compounds found in the flowers of Tropaeolum majus were higher than those found in the bibliography. Family reports indicate that many plants are used and that the knowledge about the uses remains alive, however they demand to know more about food and medicinal uses of the regional flora when in contact with the theme. Some farmers point out that the advancement of monoculture and the modernization of agriculture affected the abundance and distribution of some species, mainly the rural ones such as Campomanesia aurea and Psidium salutare var. sericeum. Perceptions of farmers about the transformation of rural space over time, impacts of agriculture, use of pesticides and their impacts on health are transcribed. Perceptions about the importance of PANC, their use and health benefits, reinforce their interests in food use. Pioneer record for the use of Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum to produce coffee type drink. The registration of this knowledge opens doors for new research on the traditional use of local biodiversity and evaluations of bioactive compounds and seeks to safeguard and disseminate the collected information, as well as promoting the valorization of local culture and biodiversity, contributing to the sovereignty and food security of traditional peoples and future generations of the countryside.