Banking on Russian berries for improved nutrition

Russia is facing a health crisis. Approximately 50% of its population are overweight or obese, while cardiovascular diseases, strokes, diabetes and obesity cost its economy US$ 555 billion in lost income between 2005-2015 (World Health Organisation*). This significant rise in diet-related chronic diseases is due in part to changes in the country’s dietary habits. 

Despite the high level of local varieties and landraces that form part of the traditional Russian food culture, commercial agricultural practices concentrate on just a narrow range of food crops. Traditional, nutrient rich foods have been replaced with cheaper calorie-rich, nutrient-deficient staples like bread and potatoes, and culinary traditions are being lost.

But attention is shifting back to Russia’s diverse agricultural past to find solutions to the increasing health crisis, and in particular to the small berry fruits which grow well in the cold climate of the northern territories.

Berries have long been part of Russian food culture and are still cultivated at a local level in home gardens or dachas, which are common throughout the country. And thanks to a pioneering Russian scientist, one of the world's largest and oldest genebanks containing a huge diversity of fruits, berries and potatoes is right on the doorstep - the NI Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) collection.
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A recently completed 3-year Bioversity research project, working with researchers at the institute, focused on improving ways to conserve the samples held in the collection and to fill knowledge gaps about their nutritional composition and health properties.

Different berry species and varieties within each species were analyzed for micronutrient values and also known properties that benefit health, such as phytochemicals, known antioxidants that are heart protective. Studies focused on popular crops in the north western region including blue honeysuckle, black current and raspberries. The research demonstrated that there was great variation in micronutrient and macronutrient content as well as phytochemical properties depending on the berry and the variety of that berry.

Bioversity senior nutritionist, Jessica Fanzo, during a presentation  [3] at the recent project meeting held in St. Petersburg was keen to make the link between understanding the resources we have and how that relates to local food cultures and diet diversity: “The conservation and characterization of genetic diversity of these local Russian berries is the FIRST and most critical step in preserving culinary traditions and promoting dietary quality.”

Legacies of the project include an enhanced understanding by Russian scientists who work on the VIR collection of its nutritional importance.  Bioversity scientist, Pablo Eyzaguirre, speaking of the importance of prioritizing conservation said: “Genebanks have a role to play in improved nutrition as conservation and nutrition support each other. The value of collections, such as the one at the VIR, is not just crops that are significant economically but also those that are culturally and nutritionally important.”