Cactus pear ”Opuntia ficus-indica”: The 5F Crop for Food, Feed, Fuel, Fashion, and Fertilizer Enhancing Sustainability in Arid Regions
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Mounir Louhaichi, Sawsan Hassan. (10/5/2025). Cactus pear ”Opuntia ficus-indica”: The 5F Crop for Food, Feed, Fuel, Fashion, and Fertilizer Enhancing Sustainability in Arid Regions. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
Abstract
The presentation highlighted the versatility of Opuntia ficus-indica (cactus pear) as a "5F crop," offering food, feed, fuel, fashion (bio-leather), and fertilizer. Well-suited to arid and semi-arid environments, OFI shows resilience against harsh conditions, making it vital for sustainable agriculture. However, assessments of its applications in these domains and their implications for food security are limited. Through extensive literature reviews, data on OFI's nutritional value, biomass yield, biofuel potential, textile applications, and soil enhancement were collected. Out of over 15,000 studies, 210 relevant articles were critically analyzed. The findings indicate that OFI enhances food security, provides renewable energy, offers sustainable textile alternatives, and improves soil health through biofertilizer use. This review underscores OFI's multi-dimensional benefits and its potential role in sustainable development.
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Louhaichi, Mounir https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4543-7631
Hassan, Sawsan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5057-8957
Hassan, Sawsan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5057-8957