Phytobiotechnology Applications in Mitigating Climate Change, Enhance Food Security and Overall Environmental Sustainability in Less Developed Countries
Kenneth Yongabi Anchang
*
Phytobiotechnology Research Foundation, Cameroon, Centre of Excellence for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Technology (AIKIT), Claretian University of Nigeria, Nigeria and Faculty of Biological Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A report on the application of phytobiotechnology- a nature- inspired biotechnology, with no genetic manipulation, nor use of any synthetic chemicals in any form, in mitigating climate change impact on food security and restoration of the environment is presented. This report which was carried out through review of past research works on pilot demonstration projects on phytobiotechnology applications rooted in indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation, carried out in Cameroon and Nigeria shows, that medicinal plants utilization through products formulation can be employed to attend to human, livestock and plant diseases in an integrated phytobiosystems (IPBS). Herbiotics formulated in the form of phyto-pesticides, tick sprays for plant pests’ repellents, and animals respectively, creams for skin problems in human and livestock were applied in the last 10 years in various field uses. The positive results reveals that this could reduce the dependence on synthetic agrochemicals and reduce the cost of food cultivation and production in Africa. Plants that were used in the many formulations such as Allium sativum (garlic), Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Moringa oleifera (Horse raddish plant), Lantana camara, Occimum gratissimum (basil) Aspilia Africana (Iodine plant), Carica papaya (pawpaw), Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) amongst others were identified as important candidate plants that could bring about hygiene and sanitation, repel pests, preserve food and reduce post-harvest losses. Kitchen sinks and garbage dumps treated with formulations from these plants led to a reduction of 99.7-100% of the bacterial load. Moringa oleifera seed extracts amongst others reduced hydraulic retention time in anaerobic digestion process producing biogas and highly mineralized slurries, purified and recovered waste water while it was observed that other plants have the potentials to control nematodes, and control mushroom diseases, treat waste water for irrigation while controlling algae and bacteria that may possibly clog pipes and emitters as well. The conclusion is made that since medicinal plants derived products (Phytobiotics) through the process of phytobiotechnology, can be applied to mitigate climate change impact on the environment, agriculture and food security in low middle and income earning countries, as an integrated phytobiosystems (IPBS).
Keywords: Phytobiotechnology, medicinal plants, food security, environment, disease control, sanitation, anaerobic digestion, algae control, sustainability