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NatureSurprise 4/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on September 17, 2026

There are more than 80,000 edible plants, but we only consume about 150.

Why it is true

Humanity knows and uses only a small fraction of edible plant diversity. Of the roughly 80,000 edible plant species, only 150 are cultivated on a significant scale. Three main crops, rice, wheat and maize, provide more than half of the calories consumed worldwide.

Source: FAO

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