Climate Change impacts on Breadfruit and food security 2019
Chicago Botanic Garden

Economic Botany

My project focuses on the underutilized crop, Artocarpus altilis, Breadfruit. Native to New Guinea, it has been distributed throughout the tropics and can be found in Oceania, Central/South America including the Caribbean, Tanzania, and Nigeria. Due to the rich micronutrient profile of this crop, and the abundance of food produced per hectare, it has great potential in food security. While there is information on Breadfruit origin, distribution, nutrient profile, and cultural importance, there is limited information on the abiotic tolerances of Breadfruit. Additionally, there is potential for Breadfruit to be cultivated in agroforestry systems, which may assist in the economic appeal of cultivating Breadfruit with the additional economic value of co-cultivated shade plants such as vanilla and coffee. Again, much research is needed investigating the potential of Breadfruit in an agroforestry system. An intern in this project will be exposed to many topics in plant science, with many opportunities for hands-on work. 

Intern(s)