Potential significance of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) to global food and feed industries

Abstract

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an annual herbaceous dicotyledonous plant native to Asia and Africa belonging to the Malvaceae family. Due to its many applications, it is a valuable multifunctional crop. This is an essential food, fibre and medicinal plant that can tolerate a variety of environmental conditions. This plant, along with other food alternatives, has potential to be used in feed resource-based inventories. It is an alternative crop that can be used as a protein source in both human and animal feed production. Kenaf contains a great number of bioactive compounds which can be of great importance in human and animal health. Furthermore, kenaf meal can replace soyabean meal and fish meal as protein supplements. Kenaf is greatly adaptable and available therefore, its fast growth and nutritional qualities give it a great potential to solve food insecurity in future. This paper gives an overview of kenaf’s future potential in the food and feed industries.