As a young boy, John de la Parra spent his playtime exploring the plants and crops on his family's small farm in Boaz, Alabama. His greatest influence was his grandmother, who introduced him to the medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants. Over time, this passion blossomed into a love for science, and he began to make connections between ancient wisdom and modern scientific discoveries.
This initiative is timely as the world grapples with diet-related diseases and climate change. The narrow focus on a few staple crops—wheat, maize, and rice—has led to a loss of dietary diversity and resilience. PTFI's diverse food list, which includes a wide array of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, animals, and even fungi and lichens, is essential for building a more sustainable and resilient food system.
One example highlighted by the PTFI team is wattleseeds in the Acacia genus, a traditional food of Aboriginal Australians. Despite its long history of use, many of the 120 species in this genus are absent from global food databases. PTFI is shining a spotlight on such overlooked foods, raising important questions about their nutritional and medicinal qualities and their roles in ecosystems.PTFI’s efforts also resonate with broader environmental goals.
The nine centers of excellence are also making it possible for comparisons to be made across a variety of contexts.