Practical Uses of Halophytic Plants as Sources of Food and Fodder

Halophytes are plants that are adapted to saline soils in their natural habitats because they are salt tolerant. They are found in a range of environments with varied salinity and climatic conditions. These plant species can be irrigated with saline water and cultivated on saline soils that are unsuitable for commercial crops. Halophytes are rich in nutrients, such as antioxidants, fatty acids and amino acids, and many species have been used traditionally as herbs and vegetables, feed and fodder. Therefore, halophytes are considered one of the alternative solutions to problems related to food security, fresh water scarcity, salinization and diversification of diets for healthier nutrition. However, despite the promising future for multiple uses of halophytes, many problems related to halophyte cultivation for human and animal consumption and their commercialization have still not been tackled. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of the development of halophytes as vegetable, feed and fodder, and to highlight the importance of creating a demand in the marketplace for halophyte consumption.