The dangerous past and promising future of a poisonous but nutritious crop

The three staple crops that dominate the modern diet—corn, rice, and wheat—are familiar to Americans. The fourth place, however, is occupied by an outsider: cassava. Although cassava is virtually unknown in temperate climates, it is an important food source in the tropics. It was domesticated 10,000 years ago on the southern edge of the Amazon … Read more

The dangerous past and promising future of a poisonous but nutritious crop

The three staple crops that dominate the modern diet—corn, rice, and wheat—are familiar to Americans. The fourth place, however, is occupied by an outsider: cassava. Although cassava is virtually unknown in temperate climates, it is an important food source in the tropics. It was domesticated 10,000 years ago on the southern edge of the Amazon … Read more