The cactus pear is an important plant, because it is extremely efficient in obtaining and retaining water, thus it grows in dry regions. In fact, the cactus pear has adapted not only to survive, but also to thrive in acidic soil, extremely high daytime temperatures and limited water supplies. Therefore, the cactus pear grows in conditions where few other plants will survive. For this reason, it is easily cultivated all over the world, in fact, different types of cactus pear species have been found as far north as 53˚N (United States) and as far south as 50˚S (Argentina). One cold tolerant species (Opuntia rafinesquii) grows in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland. Declining water sources, food security, and desertification in many parts of the world compelled researchers to take notice of edible, water efficient plants such as the cactus pear.

Researchers wanted to discover whether the cactus pear would be a more efficient source of human and animal nourishment in South Africa and the rest of the world. They also wanted to explore its medicinal, cosmetic and nutritional potential.

The whole cactus pear plant is edible, which includes the flat broad stem called a cladode or nopalitos, and the fruit. Cactus pear plants have been thriving in South Africa for many years. They are used for commercial fruit production where most fruits are rather sold informally than in formal markets, and for fodder. Only the fruit is used in South Africa, as the cladodes are not perceived to be a human food source. Therefore, the potential use of cladodes is enormous in a country where food and water sources decrease continuously.