Nine food crops as you've never seen them before... can you name them all?
- Wednesday, 15 October 2014 13:16
Crop connoisseur? Food fanatic? Put your identification skills to the test with our quiz.
In honour of World Food Day (October 16th) 2014, we challenge you to take our quiz. See if you can identify all these food crops, and no cheating now!
Some of them are sure to be foods you eat every day, while – depending on where you live – others may not be so familiar. All are everyday staple foods for people in different parts of the world.
Family farming is the theme for this year’s World Food Day, and 2014 was designated by the UN as the International Year of Family Farming. All the crops you will see below are grown by many millions of families on small farms around the world, as well as on more commercial scales.
Smallholder farming families tend to be the most food insecure, and the most vulnerable to hunger, poverty and malnutrition. They are also those who can be helped most by crop varieties able to give a good harvest in the face of droughts, diseases and other challenges.
On with the quiz… click on each image to see the answer and learn some intriguing facts about the foods you eat!
1. This food crop can be baked or boiled, roasted or ground, but in the field it’s one of the toughest around.
Find out more about sorghum:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Sorghum InfoCentre
- Sorghum facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Sorghum Research Initiative
- The CGP Comparative Genomics Research Initiative
- Sorghum resources at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals
- See the original photo on flickr
2. Once associated with Venus, this food crop now has something in common with the African lion.
Find out more about chickpea:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Legumes InfoCentre
- Chickpea facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Legumes Research Initiative
- Chickpea resources at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes
- See the original photo on flickr
3. This pearl of a crop has its own goddess in several countries.
Find out more about rice:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Rice InfoCentre
- Rice facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Rice Research Initiative
- The CGP Comparative Genomics Research Initiative
- The Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), the CGIAR Research Program on Rice
- See the original photo on flickr
4. Not an elephant’s favourite food after all, but a great source of nutrients for people and a lifesaver when famine hits.
Find out more about groundnut:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Legumes InfoCentre
- Groundnut facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Legumes Research Initiative
- Groundnut resources at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes
- See the original photo on flickr here and here
5. This food crop comes in a rainbow of colours, but it’s rain that’s looking in short supply.
Find out more about maize:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Maize InfoCentre
- Maize facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Maize Research Initiative
- The CGP Comparative Genomics Research Initiative
- Maize resources at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- MAIZE, the CGIAR Research Program on Maize
- See the original photos on flickr here and here
6. Enya Asa… not a pop star but one of the dishes you can make with this food crop.
Find out more about cassava:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Cassava InfoCentre
- Cassava facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Cassava Research Initiative
- Cassava resources at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB)
- See the original photo on flickr
7. This curvaceous crop has many names, and even shares one with a musical group.
Find out more about cowpea:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Legumes InfoCentre
- Cowpea facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Legumes Research Initiative
- Cowpea resources at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes
- See the original photo on flickr here and here
8. Complicated genetics and a proud history lie behind this food crop’s mild-mannered exterior.
Find out more about wheat:
- GCP Wheat InfoCentre
- Wheat facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Wheat Research Initiative
- The CGP Comparative Genomics Research Initiative
- WHEAT, the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat
- See the original photo on flickr
9. This tasty food crop might tell your fortune… we predict higher yields for Africa (and a tall, dark, handsome stranger or two)!
Find out more about beans:
- Latest GCP blog posts
- GCP Legumes InfoCentre
- Bean facts and figures at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The GCP Legumes Research Initiative
- Bean resources at the Integrated Breeding Platform
- The CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes
- See the original photos on flickr here and here