Reconquest of wild crop seeds and unconventional food plants in Dênis Gonçalves settlement, Minas Gerais

Abstract

Food and nutritional sovereignty of peasants are associated with the use of wild crops and
unconventional food plants, since they guarantee the productive autonomy through diversification
and non-market dependence. The present study aimed to reconquest the wild crops and
the valorization of the knowledge about unconventional food plants in the settlement “Dênis
Gonçalves”, MG. It was fulfilled 34 interviews with the settlers. 88 PANCs were mentioned, especially
Cariru de porco, Ora-pro-nobis, Jurubeba, Bertalha, Serralha, Capiçova and Taioba.
114 wild crops varieties were identified, with rice and beans being the most diverse species.
From the list of the creole varieties, a field trip was made with the settlers to the “Middle Rio
Doce”, to reconquer two locally valued wild corn varieties, the “caiana” and “serra abaixo”. In
addition to these two varieties, more than 40 creole varieties have been reconquered, and now
it returns to the hands of those who should never have been withdrawn.