LU-CAEHS Research Seminar

“Unlocking the Potential of Pumpkin Leaves: A Nutritious and Underutilized Vegetable”

In Missouri, 12% of households experience food insecurity, partly due to limited access to nutritious food. While certain crops are highly nutritious, they are often underutilized in areas where they are not traditionally consumed. For instance, pumpkin leaves, rich in nutrients and native to Missouri, are rarely used as food. The seminar "Unlocking the Potential of Pumpkin Leaves: A Nutritious and Underutilized Vegetable" addresses this issue by proposing solutions to enhance food security. It marks a significant moment in health and nutrition education at Lincoln University of Missouri, encouraging Cooperative Extension and Research experts to explore the use of native plants like pumpkin in combating food insecurity. The seminar advocates employing the Agriculture Innovation System (AIS) to boost the production and consumption of pumpkin leaves. Additionally, it promotes urban agriculture to improve the availability of nutritious foods and urges small holder and urban farmers to cultivate pumpkins beyond Halloween for food security purposes, potentially increasing local and global use.

Presented by Judith R. Mutamba, M. MSc. MS. Cert/D-HA, Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist in Human Nutrition & Health.