Food plants varied in ability to accumulate minerals in leaves and in tolerance of mineral-deficient soils. Mineral levels in diverse, local leafy food plants were compared to reveal genotype–environment interactions. This project targeted four atolls south of Tarawa, Kiribati, and was later extended to Tuvalu. Nutritious, leafy food plants adapted to alkaline, salty, coral soils could form part of a food system strategy to reduce NCD rates. Starchy root crops like sweet potato, taro, and cassava are difficult to grow on the potassium-deficient soils of atolls, and high energy, low nutrient imported foods and drinks are popular. Pacific Islanders have paid dearly for abandoning traditional diets, with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) widespread.
Reliable provision of quality germplasm, more nutrition education, including school food gardens which feature the most nutritious of the vegetables, and value chain research to improve shelf life and delivery of nutrients to consumers are recommended. Aibika was high in iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, protein and lutein sweetleaf was high in iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, sulphur, lutein, bcarotene and protein ete was high in zinc and calcium and grows well on alkaline coral soils drumstick was high in b-carotene, sulphur and selenium, and creeping spinach was high in magnesium and polyphenols. (ete), Sauropus androgynus (sweetleaf), Moringa oleifera (drumstick tree) and Basella alba (creeping spinach). The data, together with flavour and popularity, were used to make a "Top 12" nutritious leafy vegetable factsheet series, which was distributed in participating countries and published online (Outstanding species included Abelmoschus manihot (aibika, bele), Polyscias spp. To study genotypeenvironment interaction, different species growing at the same location (same soil) and common species growing at multiple locations (different soils) were included in the survey.
Leaf samples were collected in Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands and minerals, carotenoids and polyphenols were analysed. This study found that, although certain leafy vegetables are popular in some countries, particularly Solomon Islands and Tonga, there is little knowledge of their health benefits. Leafy vegetables should play an important role but are often regarded as "low status" foods and have received little research attention. A more traditional lifestyle, especially with respect to diet and exercise, is needed to address the alarming rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes in Pacific Island countries and indigenous communities in northern Australia.
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