Locally Adapted and Organically Grown Landrace and Ancient Spring Cereals-A Unique Source of Minerals in the Human Diet

Consumer interest in local and organic produce, sustainability along the production chain and food products contributing to health, are laying the foundation for local and organic-based diets using nutrient-dense food. Here, we evaluated 25 locally adapted landrace and ancient spring cereal genotypes per location over four locations and three years, for mineral content, nutritional yield and nutrient density. The results showed a large variation in minerals content and composition in the genotypes, but also over cultivation locations, cultivation years and for genotype groups. Highest minerals content was found in oats, while highest content of Zn and Fe was found in ancient wheats. The wheat Diamant brun, the wheat landrace oland and naked barley showed high mineral values and high content of Zn and Fe when grown in Alnarp. Nutritional yield, of the cereals evaluated here, was high related to values reported internationally but lower than those found in a comparable winter wheat material. The nutrient density was generally high; less than 350 g was needed if any of the evaluated genotype groups were to be used in the daily diet to reach the recommended value of Zn and Fe, while if the suggested Novel Nordic Diet mix was used, only 250 g were needed. A transfer from currently consumed cereals to those in the present study, along the New Nordic Diet path, showed their potential to contribute as sustainable and nutrient-rich sources in the human diet.

Automated summary

Consumer interest in local and organic produce, sustainability in the food production chain, and food contributing to health have led to the foundation for diets based on nutrient-dense local and organic foods. The study evaluated 25 locally adapted landrace and ancient cereal genotypes across four locations and three years, showing variations in mineral content and nutritional yield. Different genotypes, cultivation locations, years, and groups showed varying mineral content, with oats having the highest mineral content and ancient wheats having the highest Zn and Fe content. Nutrient density was generally high, with small amounts needed to reach recommended Zn and Fe values, especially when following the Novel Nordic Diet mix. Transitioning to the cereals studied here could offer sustainable and nutrient-rich options in the human diet.